MELAKA: Sungai Lereh has turned muddy again, possibly due to improper release of discharge from the Sungai Udang landfill, says Klebang assemblyman Datuk Lim Ban Hong.
It is believed that the pollution was due to the effluents discharged from water treatment ponds at Sungai Udang, he said, adding that the contamination had affected the livelihood of fishermen in the area.
“I have asked the Melaka Environment Department to do a water sample analysis to see whether there is any violation (under Environmental Quality (Control of Pollution from Solid Waste Transfer Station and Landfill) Regulations 2009),” he said after visiting the site on Thursday.
Not so pristine: Sungai Lereh has been polluted for the second time this year.
Lim said fishermen had experienced itchiness after touching the surface of the river.
The repeated pollution of Sungai Lereh will lead to negative consequences for local folk and the environment, he added.
This is the second time recently that the river has been severely polluted – the first was on Feb 18 where it is believed that sewage from cattle and goat farming activities was dumped there.
Fisherman Zainuddin Aluwi claimed that pollution had also occurred a few times previously.
“We find it hard to continue earning a living,” said Zainuddin, who is in his late 40s.
