MELAKA: A waste management company has been slapped with a RM10,000 compound for polluting Sungai Ayer Batu in Sungai Udang here.
Melaka rural development, flood management and green technology committee chairman Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the company had discharged leachate into the river, polluting water resources meant for agricultural purposes.
"Farmers complained on the blackish water flowing into their irrigation system. When authorities investigated, they found the company was the culprit for the contamination," he said in an interview here on Sunday (Feb 21).
Idris said the leachate is believed to be from the Sungai Udang landfill area.
He said the company could also face a maximum compound of RM125,000, or RM1,000 per day, for subsequent offences.
Idris said the compound was issued following investigations by Melaka Water Regulatory Authority (BKSA) under Section 39(a) of the Water Resources Enactment Melaka 2014.
He said water flow from Sungai Ayer Batu is an important source for agriculture and livestock farming, especially to irrigate padi fields.
He said farmers from Paya Rumput and Bukit Rambai were badly affected by the pollution that was first detected in August 2020.
Idris said the state government has gazetted 103 rivers as water resources since 2012.
He added that BKSA has issued permits to 193 companies to extract raw water for industrial and other purposes.
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