There are many things you can claim to have done “accidentally” and get away with, like farting in a lift and spilling coffee on your boss’ face.
But “accidentally” clearing a forested area? Yeah, that might land you in some trouble.
Now, the company behind the accidental deforestation have issued an update to its shareholders, and it’s not exactly what we expected.
Contractor That ‘Erroneously’ Cleared Kranji Woodlands Updated Shareholders About the Incident
In the statement, Huationg said it wished to update shareholders of the Company that JTC had, on 13 January 2021, issued a stop work order.
The company said it is currently assisting JTC in investigations in connection with the accidental deforestation.
It added that it’s unable to assess if the recent matter will have a “material impact” on the consolidated net tangible assets and earnings per share for the current financial year ending 31 Dec 2021.
It advised shareholders against “taking any action with respect to their securities in the company”, as it may be “prejudicial to their interest.”
As for the woodlands, it added that delays are expected in the completion of project works at the Kranji Agri-Food Innovation Park (AFIP).
JTC had previously said that the woodlands which were erroneously cleared had been earmarked for the development of the AFIP, which is part of the Sungei Kadut Eco-District.
Large-scale Deforestation
It all started on 14 Feb 2021, when Facebook user Brice Li shared pictures of the Kranji woodlands taken in 2019 and 2021.
The difference was certainly evident.
Two days later, on 16 Feb 2021, JTC explained that Huationg had erroneously cleared the land.
Was there someone sleepwalking with a chainsaw or something?
JTC said it had engaged an environmental specialist to carry out a biodiversity baseline study in December last year to work out an environmental monitoring and management plan (EMMP) for specified plots of land within the area.
Once it discovered the error on 13 Jan, Huationg was immediately issued a stop-work order.
A stern warning was also issued to the company, that later apologised.
But then we discovered that the woodlands had been cleared much, much earlier.
Satellite Images Reportedly Show Clearing of Kranji Woodlands Was in Progress in March 2020
ST reported that the forest was being cleared since March 2020, refuting claims that the erroneous deforestation only began in December last year.
Over 8ha of the land has been cleared, backed up by data by the Global Forest Watch.
In September 2020, photos from Google Street View also showed a sign saying “proposed site clearance and earthworks at Kranji Road for Plot 9” at the cleared land next to Kranji Road.
Huationg’s press release didn’t, however, respond to allegations that the woodlands had been cleared in March 2020.
JTC said it’s still investigating the incident, though, so we might get an answer after all about this mysterious deforestation.
Featured Image: Facebook (Brice Li)
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