GUA MUSANG: Four companies operating vegetable farms in Lojing Highlands here have been served with temporary stop-work orders for breaching clearance and planting regulations.
The stop-work orders were issued by the Kelantan Department of Environment (DoE) under Section 34A of the Environment Act.
State DoE director Wan Aminordin Wan Kamaruddin said several operations were carried out between January and May this year following complaints from the public.
He said the operators not only breached the clearance and planting regulations, they also contaminated several rivers in the district.
"These owners were planting vegetables in the Lojing Highlands, and they were found to have violated the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations by causing some rivers to be polluted, as well as breached other environmental rules.
"Their farming activities, if left unchecked, may trigger landslides."
He said two companies operating vegetable farms in the highlands were issued stop-work orders for similar offences last year.
On whether the operators have faced court action, Wan Aminordin said all of them have responded to the notices.
"They have improved their vegetable clearance and planting methods within the stipulated period stated in the notices."
He said the department's branch office here would continue to monitor other farm operators to ensure they adhere to the regulations.