Peace and quiet at long last

Enforcement officers entering the site at 4th Mile off Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

THE illegal operations of two sand washing companies in Kuala Lumpur, a nuisance to neighbouring residents which had contaminated nearby rivers, have been permanently shut down.

The sand washing operations on a site at 4th Mile off Jalan Kelang Lama, facing Sungai Klang, and on another land near the Kampung Bohol Flood Retention Pond in Bukit Jalil and Sungai Kuyoh area have ceased.

Residents in both areas reported that it was all quiet.

“There are no more lorries coming in and there has been no activity on the land,’’ said a resident, who preferred to be identified as Lim.

Lim was referring to the operation at 4th Mile off Jalan Kelang Lama.

“It’s been good so far and we really hope that it will remain like this,’’ Lim added.

Another resident living nearby, C.K. Yap said roads leading into the site were badly damaged by lorries transporting sand in and out of the area.

An excavator used at the illegal sand washing site seized during the joint operation by DBKL, PTG, SWCorp and Alam Flora.

“The stretch is riddled with potholes and need a lot of work. I hope Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) can repair them,” Yap said.

Meanwhile, over at Kampung Bohol, residents living in Andes Condo Villa were happy that the illegal sand washing operation had ceased.

“I cannot believe my eyes and ears,” said Joyce Lee.

“The droning of the sand washing machines has stopped and there is no more activity on the land,” she added.

Pictures provided by DBKL show that the site was cleared of machinery and tractors.

Authorities seized tractors, tipper lorries and other equipment from the operators in an operation.

The operators were also compounded for multiple infringements, including carrying out earthworks without a permit.

When contacted, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan told StarMetro that the Federal Territories Land and Mines Department (PTG) had taken action against the operators.

PTG in a joint operation with DBKL, Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) and Alam Flora had cleared the area.

“On DBKL’s part we have resurfaced some of the roads that were damaged by the tipper lorries transporting sand,’’ he said.

StarMetro’s report on Jan 2.

Following StarMetro’s exclusive story that highlighted the illegal activity earlier this year, representatives from DBKL along with SWCorp, Alam Flora, Federal Territories Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS), as well as Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil visited the 4th Mile site to check on the complaints of dust and noise pollution.

StarMetro has been reporting on the illegal sand washing operation taking place approximately 8km away from the billion-ringgit River of Life project in Masjid Jamek since 2016.

The activities taking place along the riverbank and water sources have contaminated the river badly, according to water quality specialists, Dr Zaki Zainudin.

The National Water Quality Standards prescribes a maximum limit of 400 cfu/100ml (colony forming units per millilitre) for body contact.

But according to Zaki, the reading was up to hundreds of thousands in Sungai Klang due to illegal sand washing activities.

Fahmi said the latest action by DBKL was a follow-up after the site visit a few weeks ago.

“I saw what was happening. The pollution! There is simply no compromise on protecting the environment.

“I fully support the mayor on this move and we will be keeping an eye on this place,” he added.