Police investigate pollution report in Semenyih

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have opened investigations into mischief after odour pollution and foam were detected in raw water at Kampung Sungai Rinching Tengah, Semenyih.

Deputy Sepang OCPD Supt Md Noor Aehawan Mohamed said the case had been classified under Section 430 of the Penal Code after a complainant from Air Selangor lodged a report on Thursday.

“According to the report, the complainant claimed the water had an odour with a five threshold odour number (TON) level.

“The complainant also claimed to have detected pollution at the water inlet to Sungai Semenyih,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said investigations were carried out by Air Selangor, Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas), Environment Department, and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) at the suspected source of pollution, believed to be a factory.

“Thorough checks at the location revealed an underground channel, but a check on the premises did not lead to the source of the channel.

“The Selangor police forensic unit has taken five water samples at the channel as well as samples from the water treatment plant. Samples were also taken from the suspected factory,” he said, adding that all samples were sent to the Chemistry Department for further action.

He said they had taken statements from the complainant as well as the factory owner.

The detected odour pollution and foam in the water at Kampung Sungai Rinching Tengah, Semenyih, had been expected to cause water disruption to around 463 areas in Selangor and Putrajaya.

Selangor tourism and environment committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said an initial investigation from Luas found foam at 8.45am on Dec 15 in Sungai Rinching, a tributary of Sungai Semenyih.

“We have Kajang Municipal Council and the Environment Department doing the necessary inspections, and the outcome of the initial investigations have pointed to a flow from a drain outlet near a factory premises close to Kesuma Beranang Phase 7,” he said.