JOHOR BARU: The Environment Department (DOE) is waiting for the chemistry report on the latest pollution incident at Sungai Kim Kim, says its state director Dr Famey Yusoff.
“The officers are completing the investigation papers.
“We are also still waiting for the chemistry report,” he said when contacted yesterday.
It was reported that public complaints led the authorities to the discovery of pollution in the river recently.
State health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said DOE conducted an investigation at Sungai Kim Kim following complaints from the public about a foul smell coming from the river around Kampung Bukit Pulai in Pasir Gudang.
“DOE staff went to the location at about 10pm on July 28 and found the water in the river was dark and had a foul smell.
“They inspected the surrounding areas and based on early investigation, the pollution was suspected to have been caused by waste being dumped from non-industrial premises,” he said on Sunday.
Vidyananthan said water samples were collected and sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
“The parties involved have been told to stop the dumping of untreated waste and to immediately take improvement measures.
“Drones have also been used to monitor the area and an in situ (in the original place) water testing has been conducted around the spots where the pollution was detected,” he added.
In March 2019, toxic pollution in Sungai Kim Kim resulted in thousands of people falling ill, as well as the temporary closure of 111 schools in Pasir Gudang district.
The district was again hit with a similar pollution three months later, which also caused dozens to fall sick and saw another temporary closure of 111 schools.
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