POLLUTION in Sungai Buloh took a turn for the worse in 2017 due to rapid development taking place along the river banks, Selangor exco member Izham Hashim said.

Responding to recent reports on worsening pollution and fishermen experiencing reduced catch in Kuala Selangor, the exco for infrastructure and public amenities, agricultural modernisation and agro-based industries said alarm bells have rang for some years now. 

“Rapid progress has brought development right up to the edge of the river, encroaching on the buffer zone necessary for river maintenance and cleaning.

“Industrial areas along Sungai Buloh are a major contributing factor to river pollution if no preventive steps are taken,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The Malaysian Insight recently reported that Kuala Selangor fishermen had for 15 years complained of pollution in Sg Buloh to no avail.

Repeated incidents of pollution have led the fishermen to believe that there are people with influence who are making the government agencies close an eye to factory operators dumping waste into the river.

Izham did not directly address this claim but said enforcement by the Environment Department only worked up to a point as development was outpacing enforcement efforts in the area.

Major industrial areas of Kampung Jaya Sungai Buloh, Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh and the Ijok Industrial Area are all potential sources of pollution.

In the case of the fishermen’s complaints of river pollution, the water runs clear until it passes the Ijok industrial area, after which it turns black and takes on an odour.

Villages and housing estates are also built along the river, such as Kampung Paya Jaras, Taman Seri Buloh, Kampung Kubu Gajah, Kampung Merbau Sempak, Taman Desa Moccis and Kampung Bukit Kuching.

Izham said these villages and housing areas were also potential sources of pollution.

The Selangor government in a recent meeting on management of the state’s rivers and seafronts had noted DOE findings which showed Sungai Buloh slipping from “moderately polluted” to “polluted” in February.

“Among the development activities that have contributed to river pollution in Sungai Buloh are earth works, agriculture, industries and release of effluents and waste, some untreated or partially treated.

“Downstream of the river are oil palm plantations. Surface run-off from the plantations have the potential to deliver fertiliser residue and poisons that will significantly affect the quality of Sungai Buloh’s water,” Izham said.

Izham said he set up a river rehabilitation committee in January as part of measures to address river pollution in the state following a 2012 study on Sungai Buloh by the Selangor Water Management Authority.

He said the study identified land uses, potential pollution risks, and categorised pollution sources as permanent and non-permanent so that the committee could advise the state government on land use planning.

Permanent sources of pollution are identified as sewage treatment plants, industrial and commercial areas, chicken processing plants, brick factories and sand-mining.

Housing estates and palm oil plantations are categorised as non-permanent pollution sources. – June 15, 2019.