DOE to keep monitoring air quality near Sungai Kim Kim

JOHOR BAHRU, 21 Mac -- Keadaan Sungai Kim Kim yang semakin pulih selepas kerja-kerja pembersihan sungai itu daripada sisa toksik selesai dilakukan ketika tinjauan di kawasan berkenaan hari ini. Menurut Menteri Tenaga, Sains, Teknologi, Alam Sekitar dan Perubahan Iklim Yeo Bee Yin biarpun sungai tersebut disahkan bersih dan selamat namun pemantauan selama 15 hari akan diteruskan. --fotoBERNAMA (2019) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

JOHOR BARU: The Department of Environ­ment (DOE) will continue to monitor the air quality surrounding Sungai Kim Kim despite the closing of the inter-department operations in Pasir Gudang.

State DOE director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said they would check the air quality in a 5km radius around Sungai Kim Kim for two more weeks.

“This is to ensure that the area is free from any chemicals that could be harmful to residents.

“The air quality checks are being conducted every hour so that we can detect if there is any cause for alarm,” he said when contacted.

He said nine DOE officers would monitor and conduct the checks.

“So far, we have not detected any signs detrimental to public health,” he said.

Asked on the 46 other dumping sites found around Pasir Gudang on Wednesday, he said those sites were mostly industrial waste without any harmful chemicals.

“That is just industrial and construction waste, possibly from factories nearby,” he said, adding that Pasir Gudang Municipal Council would identify the culprits involved.

Dr Mohammad Ezanni also said they were working with police to trace those responsible for the pollution.

Meanwhile, all 111 schools in Pasir Gudang that were closed following the incident will re-open on March 31, said Johor Education Department deputy director Azman Adnan.