MUKAH, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The Kenyana river here will be designated as abreeding ground for the highly prized Arowana fish, state Minister ofEnvironment and Public Health Datuk Michael Manyin said.

He said the river would be provided "special protection" under anenvironmental master plan that would be prepared for Mukah, one of the twonew administrative divisions in the state.

The other new division is Betong.

Manyin said the state Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) wouldprepare the environmental master plan which would be incorporated into thedivision's overall development master plan.

The development plan would zone areas for industrial, commercial,agricultural and residential use, he told reporters after launching theState Environment Week 2004 on behalf of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul TaibMahmud.

In his speech read by Manyin, Taib said a RM3.74 million study to preventpollution and enhance the water quality of the Rajang River, the country'slongest, would be completed by next month.

The study undertaken by the Department of Environment (DOE) would suggestan action plan to clean up the river and beautify it.

Taib said it was very unfortunate that some people still treated riversand the environment as dumping ground for their rubbish.

For example, he said, 10 rivers in the state were considered moderatelypolluted.

He said the DOE had issued licences to five palm oil mills in the state toproduce compost materials from oil palm fruit stem and effluentsdischarged.

"We also insist on controlled burning approach under the Fire DangerRating System to prepare more areas for cultivation," he said.

"These are significant developments as we propose to develop about onemillion hectares for oil palm plantation by 2010."

Taib also said all new housing projects in Kuching and other towns in thestate would have to set aside 10 per cent of their areas for parks andrecreational areas under the government's "Green Healthy City" concept.

-- BERNAMA