POLLUTION AT SUNGAI SAYONG: NO LRA CLOSED

PONTIAN, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- No water treatment plant (LRA) in Johor has been shut down following a water pollution incident at Sungai Sayong in Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang near Kota Tinggi, which was reported yesterday.

State Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Fazli Salleh said pollution readings were conducted today and that relevant agencies would update the findings to determine further action.

“Based on a report from the Department of Environment (DOE), the pollution is believed to have originated from an oil palm mill. The Johor Water Regulatory Body (BKAJ) is continuing to monitor the situation. As of today, no water treatment plants have been closed, and water supply to consumers remains normal,” he said.

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Fazli told reporters this after attending the groundbreaking and handover ceremony for the RM23.12 million Sungai Pontian Kecil Bridge Project in Pontian today.

He also said the state government is planning to gazette five major rivers — Sungai Johor, Sungai Muar, Sungai Pontian, Sungai Endau and Sungai Sedili — as raw water sources.

According to him, information is currently being gathered from relevant departments to determine the protection zone perimeters and distances, as well as to identify potential sources of pollution before the gazetting process is finalised.

Fazli added that the state government is tightening controls on new developments by requiring early involvement from the DOE, the submission of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports and endorsement from other technical agencies.

“As an early preventive measure, six telemetry systems have already been installed along Sungai Johor, and another six will be installed this year near water treatment plants to enable early detection of pollution,” he said.

Yesterday, Panti Assemblyman Hahasrin Hashim was reported as saying that the DOE and the Fisheries Department are investigating the water pollution incident at Sungai Sayong, which was reported to have turned pitch black.

He said complaints from residents had been received and that he immediately requested both departments to identify the source of the pollution and assess its impact on the environment and local fisheries resources.

--BERNAMA