Errant factories in JB warned

A photo of Sungai Danga showing the water which had turned black.

JOHOR BARU: Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has issued a warning to all factories operating in its area to abide by the rules, especially pertaining to public safety.

Mayor Datuk Amran A. Rahman said this would help prevent situations like the chemical pollution currently affecting Pasir Gudang from recurring in the city.

“The incident in Pasir Gudang shows there are some factories out there conducting business without following regulations.

“Their irresponsible actions have led to the public, including children, suffering,” he said in his speech at MBJB’s full council meeting here.

Amran said there will be no compromise when taking action against the culprits.

He said MBJB was also ready to lend a hand to Johor or Federal government by mobilising its Disaster Squad.

“I have instructed a few departments in MBJB to help in the surveillance operations together with the other agencies under the Disaster Management Committee.

“We have also allowed the use of a MBJB hall as temporary shelter for those affected,” he added.

On another matter, Amran said MBJB would conduct checks at Sungai Danga after an aerial photo of the river went viral, showing the river water had turned black and reports of a stench in the area.

He said the checks would be conducted at Kampung Orang Asli Taman Perling, which was the nearest location to the river.

Besides MBJB, personnel from Iskandar Puteri City Council, Environment Department (DOE) and Indah Water Konsortium will also be involved.

“Sungai Danga comes under the purview of the Irrigation and Drainage Department and preliminary reports by DOE states that the pollution was caused by the final discharge from IWK’s plant in Taman Bukit Indah and Taman Perling.

“However, after monitoring the location using a drone, we found that the change in colour from brown to black only occurred near the IWK plant in Jalan Simbang 19,” he said.