KUALA LUMPUR – The Environment and Water Ministry is offering a RM5,000 reward to those with information and evidence leading to the arrest of the parties behind the pollution in Sg Selangor that caused the latest supply disruption in the state.
Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all information can be given via email at [email protected] or the Environment Department (DoE) hotline at 1-800-88-2727.
“The reward given is in line with the government’s continuous commitment to Budget 2021, which provides special allocations to anyone who can channel information on misconduct and violations of the law, including regarding the issue of river pollution,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“I view this matter very seriously because there have been seven incidents where water treatment plants in Selangor have had to shut down due to pollution this year.”
He said he has instructed ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang to visit several sites suspected to be the source of the latest pollution, around Taman Velox in Rawang.
Tuan Ibrahim said Zaini was joined by DoE Director-General Norlin Jaafar, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) chief executive Narendran Maniam and National Water Services Commission (SPAN) CEO Datuk Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman.
“Based on initial investigations, the pollution was found to have come from industrial effluents from various small and medium industries in Taman Velox and its vicinity, namely Kawasan Industri Kecil Sg Bakau and Taman Perindustrian Teknologi Rawang.
“Some of the effluents seeped into drains, while some was dumped illegally into the sewerage system, which disrupted operations at the IWK sewage treatment plant in Taman Velox.”
He said the issue is being investigated by DoE, IWK, SPAN, police, Selangor Water Management Board (Luas), Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd and the state government.
Police have opened an investigation paper on the incident, which forced the closure of the Rantau Panjang, and Sg Selangor Phases 1, 2, and 3 water treatment plants yesterday.
Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Fadzil Ahmat said the force received a report on the matter from a Luas enforcement officer yesterday afternoon.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 430 of the Penal Code for “committing mischief that can cause a diminution of water supply for agricultural purposes, for the consumption of human beings or animals, or for carrying out manufacturing activities”.
Air Selangor said the pollution level at the four plants dropped from 8 TON, or threshold odour number, to 1 TON as at 11pm yesterday.
The plants’ shutdown resulted in a water cut affecting more than 1.14 million accounts in the Klang Valley. – Bernama, November 11, 2020
