Tuesday October 27, 2009
Residents fear piled garbage will pollute Sungai Balak in Balakong
By GEETHA KRISHNAN
THE mountain-loads of garbage piled up on the banks of Sungai Balak near Kampung Baru Balakong in Selangor is an eyesore and residents are puzzled as to why the authorities are slow to act.
It was learnt that more than 12.8ha of the privately owned land was turned into a dumpsite nine years ago and garbage now lines 900m of the river stretch. For the record, Sungai Balak flows into Sungai Langat, an important water source.
The matter was raised by Kajang Municipal councillor Tan Han Kuo during the monthly complaints’ monitoring meeting yesterday. He said Kampung Baru Balakong residents were fed-up with the situation and wanted stern action taken before the river was polluted.
Growing in size: The rubbish dumped along the banks of Sungai Balak near Kampung Baru Balakong. When contacted, Kampung Baru Balakong Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Lai Soong said the rubbish was piled up nearly 6m high and was in danger of tumbling into the river.
“The number of lorries travelling daily into the area to dump their loads has increased over the years. Besides domestic waste, construction debris is also dumped at the location with the smoke and dust affecting the quality of life here,” he complained.
Lai claimed the leachate from the dump flowed into the drains and contaminated the water. He said there was evidence of illegal sand-mining activity in the area and his complaints over the years have fallen on deaf ears.
Speaking at a press conference following the council meeting at Menara MPKj, deputy council president Abdullah Marjunid said the council did not grant the approval to turn the land belonging to an individual into a dumpsite.
A spokesman for the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) said a report on the matter was submitted to the council and the Hulu Langat District Office.
The dumping activity was considered illegal and encroached into the Sungai Balak river reserve. However, investigations carried out did not reveal any evidence of contamination.
It was also learnt that complaints on the dumping activity were forwarded by residents to the Selangor DID in April this year. Following a visit to the site, notice to cease all activity was issued on May 18.
Source:
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