Dirty practices: Hee (second from right) visiting the illegal iron smelting site at Taman Semenyih Permata in Semenyih. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Swift action by the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas), Department of Environment (DOE) and Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) prevented a potential water pollution incident at Sungai Semenyih here this week.
Selangor environment, green technology, tourism and Orang Asli affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said Luas acted on a report lodged by MPKj on Feb 11 over the pollution at a monsoon drain at Taman Semenyih Permata.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by Luas, DOE and MPKj found that the source of the pollution was an illegal three-acre iron smelting site at Lot 1317, Mukim Hulu Semenyih, Hulu Langat.
“Its operators were found to have disposed black coloured carbon dust produced from their smelting operation at two small ponds nearby, ” he told a press conference here yesterday.
Hee said this would have potentially polluted 2.3km of Sungai Semenyih and would have further reached the Jenderam Hilir raw water pump station inlet which was another 22km away.
Luas issued a Water Protection Order under Section 122 (1), LUAS Enactment 1999 to the operators and if found guilty, they would face a fine of not more than RM50,000 or imprisonment of not more than a year or both. A further fine of RM3,000 each day will be imposed until the Water Protection Order is lifted. — Bernama
