‘Clean-up for illegal dumps at Twin Palms, Black Water Lake will cost a bomb’

KAJANG – The bill for cleaning up the illegal dumpsites at Twin Palms in Sg Long and Black Water Lake in Bandar Mahkota Cheras could reach tens of millions of ringgit, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Burning has also led to methane gas emissions at the Twin Palms site, causing residents there to have to endure the stench of garbage, said the natural resources, environment, and climate change minister.

“So to solve the methane gas problem in the long run, the gas must be released and the estimated construction cost to rig up such a system is between RM15 to RM20 million.

“... For Black Water Lake, there are two options to restore the lake to its pristine state, where the estimate is RM42 million, and if you want to close the site into an inert landfill, it will amount to RM18 million. These are (just) two proposals as a long-term solution,” he said after surveying the two dumpsites here yesterday.

Nik Nazmi inspected the illegal waste disposal areas together with Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir; Selangor Environment and Green Technology executive councillor Hee Loy Sian; Environment Department (DoE) Director-General Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar; and Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan.

Commenting further, Nik Nazmi said his ministry was examining the options as the cost of restoring the illegal waste disposal sites was exorbitant due to the large-scale damage to the environment.

“We will discuss with the state government to see the best way and in addition, notices have been issued by the Land Office to the landowners because they violated the conditions. All this land is private property and not government land,” he said.

For the period January 1 to May 25, 2023, the DoE had taken enforcement action by issuing 236 field instructions or warnings, 28 compounds, 58 instruction notices, and one court action on the offence of open burning.

In the case of the illegal dumpsite near Twin Palms, the DoE is completing an investigation paper for the offence of open burning in accordance with Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to five years or both upon conviction.

As for the case of Black Water Lake, it is under the jurisdiction of the local authority and further action is being taken by Kajang Municipal Council.

According to DoE records for the period January 1, 2023 to May 25, 2023, a total of 101 complaints were reported involving open burning at illegal waste disposal sites throughout the country. – Bernama, May 31, 2023