SWIFT action taken by the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas), the Department of Environment (DoE) and Kajang Municipal Council have prevented a potential water pollution at Sg Semenyih this week. 

Selangor environment, green technology, tourism and Orang Asli affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said Luas acted on a report lodged by the council on Thursday pertaining to pollution at a monsoon drain at Taman Semenyih Permata, Semenyih. 

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the three found the source of the pollution was an illegal 1.2ha iron smelting operations site at Lot 1317, Mukim Hulu Semenyih, Hulu Langat. 

“Its operators were found to have disposed of black coloured carbon dust produced from their smelting operation at two small ponds nearby,” he told a press conference today. 

This would have potentially polluted 2.3km of Sg Semenyih and would have further reached the Jenderam Hilir raw water pump station inlet, which is another 22km away, he said. 

Hee added that Luas issued a Water Protection Order under Section 122(1), LUAS Enactment 1999 to the operators and if found guilty, they would face a maximum RM50,000 fine, maximum one year’s jail or both, and further fine of RM3,000 each day until the Water Protection Order is lifted. – Bernama, February 14, 2021.