HEALTH HAZARD: Toxic materials found near Selangor water treatment plant
RAWANG: AN illegal dumping ground has been sealed off by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) for allegedly causing toxic waste pollution in Sungai Gong, one of the water sources connected to Selangor's main water treatment plants, in Jalan Rawang here.
The site is a walking distance from the recently sealed factory responsible for polluting the river and that had led to water cuts in the Klang Valley area, affecting about a million residents.
MPS president Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said the council had received a tip-off from the public on the site three weeks ago and had since sent undercover officers to investigate the situation.
"They have been using this site to illegally bury toxic waste and also dump used tyres and burn them at night.
"We have also seen traces of white, blue and red substances in the river and we are worried the water might be polluted," Azizi said after the raid yesterday.
Residents said they have been suffering from the chemical odour, breathing difficulties and mosquito bites since the illegal dumping ground started operating.
"We have been squatting in this area for some time until someone bought the land and allowed us to stay on with minimal rent. So when all this trouble started, we only complained to him but we couldn't go to the authorities as we would be evicted," said a resident.
Azizi, who ordered the site to be sealed permanently, said the area would be locked and the equipment seized. "My three officers who were here to investigate have suffered fever and other skin complications.
"I just cannot imagine how workers who had been here stayed under this hazardous conditions."
Azizi said the owner would be slapped with compounds for illegally burying toxic waste and neglecting to upkeep the area which has also become an Aedes mosquito breeding ground.
"They have been operating here for about two years, and this land was initially approved for chicken rearing only. However, the owner started renting out this area to a third party who used it as an illegal dump site."
He also stressed that MPS would now inspect all factories or sites near rivers to check on their waste disposal methods to ensure water streams are not affected by industrial waste discharges.
Members of the Rawang Fire and Rescue Department's Hazardous Material Team (Hazmat), who were also present during the raid, spent a few hours digging the soil and extracting samples.
Its station chief Mohd Haikal Md Kasri said his team of 35 personnel found one type of solid and two types of liquids, believed to be toxic materials, buried in the soil.
"We also found 20 to 30 barrels of unidentified toxic waste scattered at the site."
Land and Mines Department officers, who were also present, said they would issue a notice under Section 128 of the National Land Code, ordering the owner to restore the land back to its agricultural land status.
Its officer, Sazuli Hamdan, said the department would take immediate action to seize the land if the owner did not comply.
"The owner is still answerable to the use of the land irregardless of who ran this illegal operations. It is his land and he is responsible."
Also present were Department of Environment officers who also took samples of the toxic wastes and said that a full report would be completed in three to four weeks.
Meanwhile, when asked on the severity of the water pollution, Syabas public relations officer Priscilla Alfred declined to comment until investigations were carried out by their officers.
Read more: Illegal dump site sealed - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/illegal-dump-site-sealed-1.384528#ixzz2tYcadMy4
