BY SYASYA SUFIAN
SHAH ALAM, NOV 8: State Government has actively dealt with 16 cases of river pollution occurring in Selangor this year, which resulted in the closure of water treatment plants (WTP).
Tourism, Environment, Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco Elizabeth Wong said that there were seven cases in Daerah Hulu Langat from January to February, affecting more than a million users in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Petaling and Sepang.
She said two of the cases were caused by unidentified causes at Semantan River, Pahang.
Meanwhile four other cases were due to increased levels of ammonia from emissions released by the Lembangan Langat sewage system, and one case caused by the increase in manganese.
“Of the remaining eight pollution cases which occurred in September and October this year, four cases originated from unlicensed premises in Lalang River (Semenyih).
“Two cases originated from Semantan River while two other cases were from Nilai,” she said at the State Assembly on November 7.
Wong was replying to questions by Semenyih Assemblyman (BN) Dato ‘Johan Aziz regarding the number of cases of water supply disruptions due to river pollution throughout the year.
She said that factories causing pollution are under the control of the Department of Environment (DOE) via the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA 74).
“DOE took action by issuing a notice of detention of operation of the factory’s production process equipment which are emitting pollution, and also proceeding with court actions under the EQA 74.
“Meanwhile, for unlicensed factories, the local authorities have the power to take legal action under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 and Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
“Any party responsible for causing pollution can be fined to a maximum of RM100,000 or five years jail under section 25, EQA 74,” she said.
