KLANG Royal City Council (MBDK) is seeking funds to buy a rubbish skimmer boat to clean Sungai Klang.
MBDK Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin said the city council has submitted a proposal to Selangor government for RM1.5mil to buy it.
“Our section of Sungai Klang stretches 21km after the Shah Alam border to the river mouth. The rubbish in this stretch mars Klang’s image as a city,” he said.
Zaireezal said that rubbish was often thrown into drains and it eventually ended up in the river.
“If the application for funds is approved, two workers would be trained to operate it,” he said.
The rubbish skimmer boat will be able to scoop up single-use plastics as well as organic materials such as branches and leaves from the water.
“All floating waste from the river will go on a conveyor belt that will pull it into a storage area,” said Zaireezal.
He said river pollution harmed aquatic life and affected the smooth discharge of surface runoff at sluice gates close to the river.
“Blockage and backflows lead to floods,” he said.
He added that the rubbish skimmer boats would complement ongoing efforts such as gotong-royong and installation of rubbish screens at monsoon drains.
