‘Impose stricter penalties on river polluters’

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PETALING JAYA: Stricter penalties should be imposed on those who dispose waste without following proper guidelines, says the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

Its chairman Charles Santiago said this was due to the rise in odour pollution cases involving water sources in Selangor, causing supply disruptions.

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He said government departments and agencies must act fast and take accountability if those under their charge were responsible for polluting water bodies.

He said SPAN had proposed to amend Section 121 of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) to impose a maximum penalty of RM15mil.

“We believe this will act as a deterrent in water pollution cases,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Section 121 involves the offence of contaminating or causing to contaminate a water supply system or any part of it.

At present, an offender faces a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine not exceeding RM500,000.

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Santiago said SPAN was working with water service providers and other bodies to create an early detection mechanism to prevent any form of pollution.

“A study needs to be conducted on the available technology to assist in this cause. There is already a working relationship with the police, Environment Department (DOE), state water boards and local councils for the purpose of tackling the water pollution menace.

“We also need a more structured method in working with these agencies on the necessary preventive measures,” he added.

To enhance monitoring against polluters, Santiago proposed an upgrade of the digital record-keeping system to monitor companies hired for waste management.

Such a move would help the DOE and relevant authorities to swiftly identify and address sources of odour pollution at a localised level.

“When you need to recycle or dump waste, you must hire a third-party disposal company registered with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and local councils,” he said.

“There is a tracking system in place but what is happening is that they (companies) hire unauthorised disposal companies and this makes it harder to track where the waste is disposed.”

Santiago said a site supervisor should be hired to monitor waste disposal so that data can be recorded in the proposed digital system for the authorities to refer to in case of a pollution incident.

Global Environment Centre River Care Programme manager Dr Kalithasan Kailasam called for the setting up of a formal agency to effectively monitor river pollution.

“The government needs to show seriousness about pollution of water sources like rivers by declaring it a part of our national security, as 97% of potable water in Malaysia comes from rivers.

“A formal agency can assist DOE and authorities to monitor pollution continuously,” he added.

Dr Kalithasan also called for polluters to bear the cost of river clean-ups upon conviction and for mandatory prison sentences to be imposed.