NUSAJAYA: Johor is consistent in taking stringent actions to ensure that the pollution level in Johor is under control and prevented.
State Health and Environment committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said last year 49 pollution-related cases were brought to court.
“Among those found guilty include those involved in the 17 cases of open burning, excessive smoke emission from vehicles and industrial premise,” he said.
Ayub said other cases that were brought to court included violation of licence regulations, non-compliant of notices and non-compliant of the Environment Impact Assessment regulations.
He was replying to a question posed by Ali Mazat Salleh (BN-Bukit Permai) at the 13th State Assembly Sitting at Kota Iskandar here on May 12.
Ayub also clarified that the state government would not approve applications to build industrial premises beside catchments or any water source areas to prevent water contamination.
“The factory which has been identified as the main culprit of the water pollution recently near the Sungai Semanggar water treatment plant was an illegal premise,” he added.
Ayub also urged assemblymen to assist the relevant authorities if they knew such illegal outlets operating in their constituencies to come forward so that the law could be enforced on them.
“The State Environment Department will issue notice to the illegal operators immediately found to have polluted rivers leading to the closure of water treatment plants,” he said.
