JOHOR BARU: Contractors tasked with cleaning up Sungai Tebrau collect about three tonnes of waste daily, says Datuk Noorazam Osman.
“We collect about 50 tonnes of waste every month and the clean-up operation has cost around RM100,000. Our record was 85 tonnes of waste in one month,” said the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) mayor.
“So this means that garbage is being thrown into the river on a regular basis because the figure is not showing any signs of decline,” he added.
Noorazam said that an RM3mil contract was awarded to a contractor to clean up Sungai Tebrau for the next three years, adding that the contract began in January of this year.
He said that surveillance by MBJB has shown that some of the waste thrown is tied, which means that it is intentionally being thrown into the river.
Of the 32km stretch of Sungai Tebrau, only 15km are within the MBJB's control and in that area it passes through a squatter settlement, market, and industrial area.
“We need help from everyone if we are to revive this river. The council cannot work on its own.
We should also stop treating our river as our backyard drain,” he said
Noorazam added that Sungai Tebrau can be revived if there is a strong sense of belonging and awareness among Johor residents, says Datuk Noorazam Osman.
The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) mayor said that this can be coupled with strong regulation from the government and clear and organised enforcement by the relevant agencies.
“Sungai Tebrau is currently a Class 4 river in the Department of Environment (DoE) classification; Class 1 rivers are the cleanest while Class 5 means that its water is polluted and not suitable for use as a water supply,” said Noorazam.
