By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, July 29 — A recycling plant in the Mahkota Beranang Industrial Park was compounded and seized for operating illegally, and is facing enforcement action after being identified as the source of yesterday’s odour pollution along Sungai Semenyih.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) has opened an investigation paper under Section 79(4) of the Luas Enactment 1999 for polluting a water source, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000, imprisonment up to three years, or both.
“The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has issued a compound under Bylaw 11 of MPKj’s Refuse Collection, Removal and Disposal Bylaws 2007, and took action to seize the premises as it was operating without a valid licence.
“The state government, Luas, and other authorities will not compromise and will take firm action over unauthorised activities or negligence by any party that causes issues or pollutes water sources,” Jamaliah said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Luas said it detected up to 10 threshold odour number (TON) was detected along Sungai Semenyih at 1.40am, prompting it to take immediate measures to prevent contamination of the state water source.
Luas launched a joint investigation with Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd into the source of the odour, which was suspected to have originated from Sungai Kabul.
According to Jamaliah, joint checks by Luas, Air Selangor, the Environment Department, the National Water Services Commission, and MPKj yesterday tracked the odour to a recycling plant at the Mahkota Beranang Industrial Park near the river.
“Inspection by the agencies found spillage of waste materials from plastic recycling activities, as well as oil-like substances stored in exposed and poorly maintained Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs).
“Luas immediately instructed the premises to move the IBC containers to a closed and secured area, and issued a written notice under Section 121(1) of the Luas Enactment (1999) ordering the premises to stop and seal any outflow, and to carry out immediate cleanup of the spilled waste at all affected locations.
“As a control measure, Luas placed six bags containing 42kg of activated carbon in the affected flow to neutralise the odour,” Jamaliah said.
She also said samples collected from the location have been sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
Jamaliah added that the release of water from the Semenyih Dam has diluted pollution in the river and sped up the decline in odour levels, which reached 0 TON yesterday evening.
