SUNGAI PETANI: A food manufacturing factory in the Angsana Light Industrial Area near here has been ordered to cease operations for discharging a cloudy yellowish effluent into the public drainage system.
Kedah Environment Department (DOE) director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the action was taken under Section 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the premises was instructed to carry out improvement works to address the issue.
"The investigation was conducted based on routine monitoring of industries operating in Kuala Muda that have the potential to cause environmental pollution.
"Findings revealed that the cloudy yellowish effluent originated from the premises' industrial effluent treatment system, which had failed to function properly," she said in a statement here on Thursday (Feb 5).
She added that effluent samples were also collected and sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis, and the case is being investigated under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
She said the factory could apply to resume operations after it has rectified the problem.
According to her, the same premises had previously been issued a compound by the Kedah DOE for an offence under the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009.
"The DOE reminds industrial operators to be more mindful of legal requirements and to ensure that pollution control systems are properly maintained and comply with the discharge limits set under the Environmental Quality Act 1974," she said.
Sharifah Zakiah also urged the public to provide information and cooperate by reporting any activities that pollute the environment via the toll-free hotline 1-800 88 2727 or through the website http://eaduan.doe.gov.my. – Bernama
