Pantai Esen Remains Muddy, State Govt Steps Up Clean-Up Efforts

By Siti Azila Alias

GEORGE TOWN, May 28 (Bernama) -- Pantai Esen in Permatang Damar Laut, Batu Maung, remains covered in thick mud along its shoreline, deterring visitors and affecting recreational activities.

A Bernama check found the area quiet, with only a few locals casting nets for prawns. The seawater was murky, with sludge and algae still visible in several spots.

Local resident Ahmad Sulaiman, 66, said the beach used to attract large crowds, including tourists, who came to swim and enjoy activities like ATV rides.

"Now it's muddy and polluted. People don't come anymore. The sea is dirty, and some who swam here developed rashes," he said when met by Bernama today.

To address the issue, the Penang government, through Silicon Island Development Sdn. Bhd. (SIDSB), the developer of the nearby reclamation project, has launched several initiatives, including manual clean-ups and daily monitoring of the affected area.

State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo said engagement sessions with local communities have also been held to gather feedback and explain recovery efforts.

He said water quality analysis revealed high nitrate levels, believed to stem from untreated sewage and wastewater from upstream sources.

To address this, the state’s Irrigation and Drainage Department will implement the Green River Programme to improve river water quality at its source.

SIDSB has also appointed an environmental consultant to conduct a comprehensive study and recommend short- and long-term mitigation measures, with monitoring overseen by Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (PICSB).

Findings will be presented to PICSB’s board, chaired by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, and submitted to the Department of Environment to ensure compliance with EIA conditions.

Previously, the media reported that Pantai Esen, once dubbed a hidden gem of Penang, is now polluted with mud and a foul odour, affecting the income of water sports operators, with many marine creatures, including snails, found dead along the shore.

-- BERNAMA