THE Sg Udang sanitary landfill operator was slapped with a RM10,000 compound on February 15 for polluting Sg Ayer Batu in August last year.

State rural development, flood management and green technology committee chairman Idris Haron said effluents released from the wastewater pond had affected agricultural activities of various cash crops and padi covering 1,500ha in Paya Rumput and Bukit Rampai.

 He said water sample analysis found there was a violation of several parameters set under Environmental Quality (Control of Pollution from Solid Waste Transfer Station and Landfill) Regulations 2009.

“Almost 60% of the agricultural areas in the two locations are polluted, causing the river to turn brownish and foul-smelling. The crops also died due to the polluted river. 

“This is a serious offence as it involves water resources, security and health issues and actions were taken under Section 39(a) of the Water Resources Enactment (Malacca) 2014,” he said in a press conference today.

The compound was issued by the state government through the Malacca Water Regulatory Authority.

According to Idris, the operator was newly appointed about a year ago to manage the landfill site, which had been in operation for about nine years. – Bernama, February 22, 2021.