MPKj: Cheras’ Black Water Lake clean-up to cost RM41mil

Najmuddin says the council has yet to decide on the best approach for the lake clean-up.

IT will cost Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) a whopping RM41mil to clean up the former illegal dumpsite at Black Water Lake in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Selangor.

MPKj president Najmuddin Jemain said this was the figure quoted by an environmental management services company appointed by the council to look into the clean-up.

“The council’s waste management budget is around RM60mil a year and the cost to clean up is two-thirds of the budget,” he said.

He explained that in a meeting with the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) in mid-2022, MPKj agreed to refer to experts regarding waste management and Worldwide Holdings was later appointed to look into cleaning up Black Water Lake.

“Their early assessment is that the cost will come up to RM41mil,” Najmuddin said during an MPKj full board meeting.

However, he added that the council was still considering the best approach to the problem.

“The council will table the budget to the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) and they will decide whether to proceed or if there is an inexpensive alternative solution,” he said.

According to Najmuddin, Worldwide Holdings had measured the lake area, which is said to be 20m deep.

Black Water Lake had been used as an illegal dumpsite since December 2021, with the lake littered with bottles, gunny sacks, polystyrene containers and plastic waste, contaminating the water and surrounding land.

Residents in Bandar Mahkota Cheras had repeatedly complained of the stench from the lake.

The authorities finally acted on May 31, 2022, when Luas, the Environment Department (DOE) and the Hulu Langat Land and District Office (PTD) conducted an integrated operation led by MPKj.

The local authority sealed off the lake area and a stop-work notice was issued to the landowners.

Bandar Mahkota Cheras councillor Lim Kim Eng said seven landowners were identified.

The Hulu Langat PTD issued notice 7A to the landowners for immediate rehabilitation and restoration of the land, with the notice period ending on Dec 31, 2022.

“However, the landowners had approached the council and explained that they were not able to pay for the treatment,” said Lim.

She added that the previous estimate to clean up and treat the lake was RM3mil to RM4mil but it had now jumped to RM41mil.