GEORGE TOWN – PLB Terang Sdn Bhd, the company managing the Pulau Burung landfill, may see its concession cut short due to the fire that has engulfed the landfill since last week.
Speaking to reporters today, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the company has violated compliance terms a few times, with the local council having served them several notices and fined them.
Describing the incident as one of the worst that has occurred under the company’s watch on the landfill, Chow said the company had apparently also failed to close up Phases 1 and 2 of the landfill before waste started filling the next cell, among its failures according to the concession agreement.
“There is a possibility its concession will be revoked, but because it is a legal binding agreement, whatever action is taken from both sides will be recognised – the responsibilities and liabilities of each party.
“And even if it is terminated, we must make sure that a third party, be it an alternative operator or even the local council, will continue the landfill’s operations so that solid waste management is not affected in the state.
“It is a chain effect. Any bottlenecks in the landfill can affect the whole process, from the transfer stations to the collection of waste from homes,” he said.
Following yesterday’s exco meeting, Chow said that the report from the local government and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MBSP) showed weaknesses in the waste management process.
The exco has instructed the local government and MBSP to look into actions that can be taken against the company, given its non-compliance with the conditions set out in the concession offer.
More days will be needed for the fire to be completely doused as many layers of rubbish underneath the surface are still burning.
Chow said that the focus for the past few days has been to increase the capacity of the firefighting machinery with water tankers, and water bombing from yesterday.
According to Penang Secretary Datuk Ahmad Jailani Bin Muhamed Yunus, the operation is now split into five zones, with approximately 40% of the fire extinguished with the help of the Fire and Rescue Department.
However, winds are fuelling and spreading the fire.
So far, two villages closest to the landfill have been evacuated. Smog from the fire has spread from the locality to other towns like Bukit Mertajam and Batu Kawan.
This is not the first time the Pulau Burung landfill has caught fire, as fires were also reported in February and July 2021. – The Vibes, January 20, 2022
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