By Zareef Muzammil
KUALA SELANGOR, Oct 20 — The Selangor government will begin utilising high-tech drones in November to monitor its rivers in efforts to prevent the encroachment and contamination of water resources.
State executive councillor for environment Hee Loy Sian said RM2 million has been allocated for the purpose, which was approved by the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) in a recent meeting.
“We will be using the drones to obtain water samples more effectively and accurately as it can also enter isolated areas,” he said during a press conference held at the Sungai Selangor Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant, here yesterday.
Meanwhile, he said the motion to amend the penalty against polluters under the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) Enactment 1999 will be brought to the State Legislative Assembly sitting early next month.
The amendment includes increasing the fine from RM200,000 to RM1 million and maximum jail time of three years.
He said the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa) will also draft a Bill to address the water pollution issues to increase the fine as a deterrent to the crime.
“The state government will also offer a RM20,000 reward to those who feed information of people with the intention to contaminate the rivers,” he added.
Some 1.2 million account users in 1,292 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat were hit by unscheduled water supply disruption due to the contamination of Sungai Selangor, yesterday.
The pollution detected at 2am yesterday had forced the Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plants to cease operations.
Preliminary investigations by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd found a solvent-like odour in the river believed to have come from three factory areas.
