SEVERAL structures of illegal recycling centres in Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Subang Jaya will be demolished for polluting a drain leading up to Sungai Kelang.
Oil trails from the lots collecting reusable spare parts and wires were seen leading into the drain along Jalan PPRT 3.
The centres will be demolished within 30 days as they had not obtained licence from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).
Council president Datuk Nor Hisham Dahlan made a surprise visit to the site yesterday afternoon, but the workers there fled the scene on spotting the council’s enforcement officers.
They, however, managed to lock the main door leading into the lots before running away.
“We will issue them a notice to meet with us within seven days, following which we will issue them a RM25,000 compound. After 30 days we will demolish the structures whether they pay the compound or not,” he added.
The compound will be issued under Section 70 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 133 .
Nor Hisham had also instructed his officers and department directors to start cleaning up the drain to ensure the heavy rain will not carry the pollutants into Sungai Kelang located several hundred metres away.
He said they will also notify the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE) about the incident.
“DOE will need our assistance anyway to clean this up, so, instead of waiting for them to seek our help, we feel it is better if we get started immediately,” he added.
When asked if the land would be seized, Nor Hisham said the decision would be made by the land office but admitted they could do so under the National Land Code for land misuse.
He believed the land was gazetted for agriculture or residential and not for commercial use.
Nor Hisham said they received complaints from villagers who were upset about the contamination a week ago.
When approached, the residents who declined to be named said their neighbours had lodged reports with the council in the past.
The illegal businesses have been running for over five years and are infamous in the area for carrying out open burning activities at night.
“Every night from 11pm onwards, they burn the scrap including rubber materials that create thick black smoke. Our walls are black from the smoke,” said a resident.
She claimed that none of them had a history of asthma attacks but her four-year-old child got frequent attacks now.
The residents also feared that the fire would spread to their homes.
They were clueless about the activities going on inside the building since the gates were always closed.
They, however, believe some of the workers were foreigners as they have been spotted moving in and out of the building.
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