‘Instal sensors to check water quality in three rivers’

SELANGOR backbenchers have proposed that sensors be installed to check on water quality and odour at Sungai Langat, Sungai Semenyih and Sungai Selangor in light of frequent pollution.

Learning that the state has only fitted one water quality sensor at Sungai Klang at a cost of RM100,000, Lau Weng San (PH-Banting) asked that similar sensors be installed in other rivers.

It is learnt that Sungai Klang also has Internet and solar-operated close-circuit television (CCTV) at the site.

“As the cost is not much, why can’t the state instal this at other rivers that people depend on for water supply like Sungai Langat and Sungai Selangor, ” asked Lau.

He also wanted to know the state’s plan in detecting and containing water and air pollution, especially those involving chemical and open burning.

Michelle Ng (PH-Subang Jaya) also questioned the lack of odour sensors at the three important rivers and if the state was ready to upgrade existing sensors to tackle pollution.

Asking a related question, Zawawi Mughni (PH-Sungai Kandir) wanted to know why open burning was still rampant in Johan Setia despite air sensors installed there.

Responding to all questions, state environment, green technology and consumer affairs, science and technology committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the Smart Selangor Delivery Unit (SSDU) had installed air quality index sensors at 49 locations statewide costing RM395,000 and one water quality sensor at Sungai Klang.

“As for the other rivers, it is to be fitted by Air Selangor or the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) and not SSDU, ” he said.

Air quality sensors, he added, could only be used to detect unhealthy air quality and would not give enforcement officers information on who was carrying out open burning, and where or when.

“The Johan Setia area is huge, over 1,000ha; it is hard to monitor all the time.

“However, whenever we are alerted, officers will head there immediately, but the culprits are no longer there when they arrive at the scene, ” said Hee.

On another matter, state local government, public transport and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the state’s pilot project on CCTV involving facial recognition that was being carried out in Subang Jaya was expected to end next month.

“It is going through analytical testing now and the CCTV features involves recognition of incidents and objects, facial recognition, and can also count the number of people present, ” he said.

Ng said this in response to Lim Yi Wei (PH-Kampung Tunku) who raised privacy concerns over the CCTV features.

He reassured Lim that many foreign countries used CCTV with facial recognition and it was safe to implement.