Algae and rubbish mar Taman Aman lake

Friends of Taman Aman Club members looking at a part of the lake covered with algae. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star

TAMAN Aman Lake in Section 22, Petaling Jaya, which underwent a massive clean-up and refurbishment of broken park facilities as well as rotten bridges in 2006, is once again facing algae build-up. The lake is a disused tin-mining pool.

Friends of Taman Aman chairman G. Rajendran pointed to the new method of maintaining the lake which had changed to chemical treatment that replaced the earlier ultrasonic cleaning after the two-year service contract ended.

He said the previous treatment was successful in stemming algae growth and eliminating the resulting stench caused by the algae.

“Before this, we tried everything else. We used mud balls injected with microbes to help desludge and aerate the lake, we tried putting the recommended chemicals into the water and we even imported fish to feed on the algae.

“But all was to no avail,” he recalled.

He said the algae was now back.

The hole left behind by a broken concrete slab under the grass turf.

“If the algae growth is left uncontrolled, it will be back to square one and the situation will affect the surrounding community,” he added.

Rajendran also noted other problems at the lake park due to poor upkeep.

“Four of the five fountains at the lake do not function anymore. The installed aerators are broken too, so the water is stagnant and this has contributed to the algae bloom,” he pointed out.

Friends of Taman Aman Club secretary Siti Mahfudz said empty cans and bottles could be found littered around the grounds in the early hours of the morning.

“This happens despite the large sign board warning that litterbugs and vandals will be fined,” she said, adding that some park-goers would even throw rubbish into the lake.

Siti also pointed out a concrete slab that broke, leaving a hole in the grass area.

“This is dangerous to park users and it makes us worry because we will never know when the ground under us will give way,” she added.

Rajendran said a large monsoon drain ran under the park and it was clogged with litter and silt.

“When it rains heavily, water overflows from the drain and some of the dirty water gets into the lake.

“At the end of the monsoon drain lies a big gap that has yet to be barricaded since the concrete wall at the edge collapsed.

“The gap poses great danger to park-goers as the drop is high and the there is no signage warning people of the gap,” he said, while questioniing the contract awarded to the new company for the lake maintenance.

MyPJ spokesman Esham Salam said the matter was another example of failure in the procurement process.

He said the tender was called three months after the expiry of the last contract, so by the time the park maintenance service resumed, there had been a lapse of six months. MyPJ is a coalition comprising 30 residents groups, non-governmental organisations and former councillors as well as elected representatives.

“The procurement department needs to be provided with the right resources for a more effective, better planning, timely and transparent procurement,” said Esham, adding that the mayor should update the public on the matter as it involved public funds.