Not happy: Residents are tired of facing a water crisis every few weeks and want stern action taken against the culprits.
KAJANG: The recurring water cut caused by contamination in the Semenyih River has residents and stakeholders questioning the lack of enforcement by the authorities.
Affected residents are tired of facing a water crisis once every few weeks and are demanding stern action against the culprits.
Bandar Puteri Residents Association and Rukun Tetangga chairman Datuk Samson Maman said the water crisis seemed to be unending.
“I don’t understand why it is so easy and quick to cut the water supply but it always takes so long to resume.
“Numerous excuses have been given but nothing ever gets fixed.
“It seems like there is something chronically wrong with the basic management of water supply,” he said.
USJ 9 Residents Association chairman Khoo Kah Jin said the problem had occurred too many times and the culprits should be charged.
He said although the premises that caused the odour pollution in the Semenyih River had been shut down, it was insufficient to teach others a lesson.
“The culprits should be arrested and charged so as to deter others from committing the same offence,” he said.
Bandar Puteri 11 Residents Association chairman Alice Choo said residents in her area “are very angry with how tough life has become”.
“There are three phases of residential units here with 500 houses in total.
“We need at least three water tankers to service our area, otherwise it is not sufficient.
“Previously, I have been managing the water tankers’ supply of water and I had to restrict each household to three buckets of water just to make sure everyone gets some,” she said.
Forum Air Malaysia research and policy executive Nah Kok Wai said similar incidents kept recurring since 2014.
He said each year, Sungai Semenyih faced water contamination but little was done to resolve the issue.
Nah said the necessary policies were already in place but there was a lack of enforcement by the relevant authorities.
“This is a known hotspot area, but they are still allowing the pollution to occur.
“They should have been prepared to resolve issues like this but they forget so we keep having to face the problem each year,” he lamented.
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