Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon (centre) speaking to the media at a food safety programme at a Ramadan bazaar in Taman Universiti, Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: The authorities are still looking for the exact source of pollution that caused fish deaths at a lake in Kulai’s Taman Matahari, says state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon.
The Johor health and environment committee chairman said the state Environment Department and Kulai Municipal Council were investigating the matter.
“Several steps have already been taken by the council and the department, including advising the sewage treatment plant nearby to conduct the necessary upgrading works.
“There might be several sources (of pollution), but investigations are ongoing to determine it,” he told reporters after officiating a food safety programme at a Ramadan bazaar in Taman Universiti here on Thursday (March 21).
He was asked to comment on a statement by Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) refuting claims that the cause of the pollution was a result of sewerage or effluent that was released by the nearby sewage treatment plant.
IWK said its operation team conducted a thorough investigation at its Indahpura sewage treatment plant near the Taman Matahari lake and found that the effluent discharged from the plant fully complied with the regulations set by the Environment Department.
More importantly, the investigations confirmed that the discharged effluent did not enter the area of the lake reported to be polluted, IWK added.
The sewerage company also said that the Taman Matahari lake comprises two distinct sections and the effluent discharged from the IWK sewage treatment plant was directed to a separate section of the lake, different from the one that had been reported to be polluted.
“Following additional investigations, it has been confirmed that no dead fish were found at the location where the effluent is discharged,” it said.
Ling added that in his earlier statement made on Wednesday (March 20), he noted that a faulty component at a sewage treatment plant nearby was believed to be the cause of the fish deaths.
“This was based on the department’s findings that I received. Whatever it is, the department and local council are still looking into the matter,” he added.
On Wednesday (March 20), Ling reportedly said that samples were collected from the channel where the effluent flowed out from the plant, as well as the water in the lake. Both showed drops in water quality levels.
The department had also issued a notice to the plant to carry out repairs immediately, he added.
