‘Effluent dumped into IWK manhole’

RAWANG: The odour pollution at Sungai Selangor is due to illegal dumping of effluent into an Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) manhole, says Hee Loy Sian.

“This is not the first time waste effluent has been dumped into IWK’s manhole illegally.

“It has happened four times within two years.

“It happened twice at Bukit Makhota and once in Batang Kali, while the most recent one was in Sungai Selangor, ” said the state environment, green technology, science, technology and innovation and consumer affairs committee chairman at the IWK plant in Taman Velox here yesterday.

Hee hopes the Federal Government will help as IWK comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry.

“We need the cooperation of IWK and the Federal Government to address this issue as the illegal discharge was released into IWK’s manhole.

“I was informed IWK can’t process chemicals as they can only process sewage from houses. IWK is also a victim in this case.

“This is the fourth time such form of pollution has taken place.

“We suspect that some irresponsible people have poured chemicals into the manhole, ” he said.

Hee hopes IWK will play its part by protecting the manholes.

“This is their asset. We hope the manholes can be locked using some special key which prevents unauthorised access.

“At the moment, anyone can open the manholes.

“I hope there will be plans to keep it locked, ” he said.

Hee said the Selangor government had just passed the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas) Enactment 1999, which provides for heavier punishment against polluters.

“Now, the fine will be between RM200,000 and RM1mil and a jail term of not more than three years.

“If the clean-up work costs RM2mil, the polluter will have to bear the cost too, ” he said.