style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: Loopholes in the documentation of earth removal permits have seen companies stretching the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) limits.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said he had found that some companies renewed their earth removal permits on a monthly basis.

"Some people are very smart … if they apply for the permit either from the District Office or the Land and Survey office, they ask for monthly renewal.

"But if they are acumulated over a year … it is more than the allowed limits. This is the trick they do," he said, before a group of judges, judiciary officers and environmental groups, during an environmental workshop, here.

He admitted one of the biggest challenges faced by the Ministry is due to the greed of developers and adding to the disappointment was that they are composed of "very powerful people."

In such instances, he called on the departments to come together and help the Government to put an end to environmental violations, saying "it is not a legacy of corruption that the present generation should leave for their children."

Although not all, he said he has also seen good developers who are willing to bring in the best technology possible which does not cause a negative impact on the local environment.

"But as I had said before there should also be profit and responsibility. It can still go along together. You can make money and still be environmentally conscious," he said.