Toxic waste dump near homes
By Ben Tan
PETALING JAYA: Fifty drums of toxic waste have been found dumped near a residential area and a golf course in Kelana Jaya here.
The drums, containing paint thinner and other chemical wastes, were believe to be from to nearby factories which were now being investigated for illegal dumping.
The drums were found at an isolated disused land in Kampung Seri Dagang, which was formerly a squatter area, located between the Free Trade Zone and Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS).
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has given the Kuala Selangor district office a week to clear the 500 drums of paint sludge and glue found dumped illegally at a ravine in Ijok, about 45 km from here.
Yesterday, Selangor Local Government and Housing Committee chairman Datuk Mokhtar Dahalan and officers from the district police, Department of Environment and Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) visited Kampung Seri Dagang, which was also filled with other debris and wastes.
Mokhtar, who is also in charge of the Squatters and Environment Committee, and the team found that half of the drums had leaked due to corrosion.
"This irresponsible and reckless at is a serious threat to public health, particularly to residents in the vicinity".
"We have immediately engaged scheduled waste disposal company Kualiti Alam to dispose of the drums as the leaks may come into contact with underground water," he said.
Mokhtar said the drums were discovered about a week ago when an MPPJ enforcement team spottedseveral man unloading the drums in the area at night.
"A report was later lodged by the enforcement team and a DOE team investigated the site on Wednesday and confirmed that the drums contained thinner," he said.
Mokhtar said the DOE and MPPJ had identified the two factories suspected to be responsible for the dumping.
He said companies involved in illegal dumping could be punished under Section 34 (b) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which carries a maximum fine of RM 500,000 or five years' jail, or both.
He urged the public to co-operate and report those who illegally dumped toxic wastes.
He said those with information could call the state DOE's hotline at 03-55197233 or its office at 03-55194748.
In Shah Alam, FREDERICK FERNANDEZ reports Mokhtar as saying that Dr Mohd Khir had ordered the district office to activate the district natural disaster action committee to tackle the problem of clearing the 500 drums of paint sludge.
He said the committee comprising the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council, Kuala Selangor district police, DOE and voluntary organisations had been told to relocate the drums before sending them to the Bukit Nenas scheduled waste treatment plant.
He said the state would apply for a RM 12mil federal allocation to dispose the toxic waste.
On Wednesday, Kualiti Alam (M) Sdn Bhd, the sole company dealing with scheduled wastes in the country, quoted RM 2mil to repack them and RM 8mil for their disposal.
Dr Mohd Khir, who was startled by the high cost of clearing and disposing the 500 drums, had ordered the DOE to trace the culprits.
Mokhtar, who also visited the dump site in Ijok yerterday, said the situation there warranted action now and the state could not wait for the DOE report or a federal allocation before starting clean-up work.
He visited four sites along the new road from Bukit Jelutong to Bandar Baru Puncak Alam, in which piles of rubbish, tyres and wood and construction debris were dumped along both sides.
Mokhtar, who was accompanied by Shah Alam City Council and Alam Flora officials, said Dr Mohd Khir had directed the council to patrol the new road to catch the culprits.
Mokhtar also ordered the council to compound the rubbish contractors of a private hospital in Petaling Jaya after his officers recovered discarded letters, documents and files belonging to the hospital at one site.
He said the council would trace all those who threw the rubbish and debris, and compound them RM 500 for each offence while those who were repeat offenders would be charged in court.
the coast," said Queenland Seafood Industry Association spokesman Duncan Souter. - Reuters
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