PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government has been urged to quickly set up a taskforce to effectively check river pollution.
Klang MP Charles Santiago called upon Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to set up a taskforce comprising various stakeholders, with an aim to identify the loopholes and to table amendments to specific laws at the state assembly within 30 days.
"Selangor should have been proactive by ensuring the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) took on an effective enforcement and monitoring role, since water disruptions are happening one too many times.
"And Amirudin should have asked for more budget, personnel and logistics to make sure setting up of such a taskforce is possible," said the former Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Monday (Sept 7).
The primary aim of the taskforce would be to stop pollution of rivers and other water sources within the state.
"It would entail reviewing current policies and practices including developing ideas of a new regulatory framework to ensure discipline and coherence in the industry.
"Specifically, the taskforce would, inter-alia identify and address existing approval, licensing and monitoring practices, silo approach of agencies, propose new regulations, rethink existing schedule waste management systems, as well as strengthening oversight bodies and financial resources.
"Also, raise regulatory matters with the federal government.
"Either that, or we would be going back and forth shifting the blame among each other while the people continue to face water disruptions," he said.
Noting that the Mentri Besar had revealed the names of factories involved, and that the operators would be forced to vacate the land, Charles said it was not enough.
Santiago said people were fed-up hearing vague excuses and weak promises.
"(While) distributing water to my constituency on Saturday, I heard heart-breaking stories of families struggling to buy water for consumption and for toilet use because it’s just so expensive," he said.
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