Foul smell in Batu Arang

TWO contractors appointed by the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) have been asked to look for an alternative site to dump waste rather than the current location near Batu Arang. The call was made by Selayang MP William Leong.

According to Leong, the contractors Metropolitan Engineers & Builders Sdn Bhd and Ejavati Sdn Bhd have been dumping waste collected from a sewerage processing plant in Puchong at a palm oil estate owned by them. The waste is then left to dry and turned into fertiliser before it is collected.

Stinking problem: The open area at the palm oil estate.

“The estate is only 2km away from the Batu Arang town and 500m away from an army camp, and since it's not cordoned off, the stench emanating from the dump has been affecting the Batu Arang residents,” said Leong, adding that the matter had been going on for five years.

“The smell is overpowering and the residents can't take it anymore. Some of them can't eat or even dry their clothes because of the stench,” said Leong, who visited the site recently.

Leong said despite lodging a police report and an official report sent to the Department of Environment, no action had been taken so far.

Ejavati contractor Ben Liong said they had difficulties covering up the waste due to the rainy season but gave an assurance that it would be done within a week.

Leong said Ejavati had already given him a proposal for an alternative site and he was still waiting for the other contractor to do so.

Both contractors claimed they had DOE approval.

Leong said he was surprised by the approval since the location for waste dump should at least be 10km away from populated areas.

“We have to wait for the proposal and look for an alternative,” said Leong.