All states must have action plan to deal with river pollution, says DoE

 

According to the Water Quality Index, 29 out of the 672 rivers nationwide were in the polluted category last year.  (Bernama pic)

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Every state must have an action plan in place to deal with the issue of river pollution.

Department of environment director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said such an action plan was critical to ensure river pollution issues were handled effectively and eventually resolved altogether.

He said integrated action should be undertaken by all the related agencies according to their scope and power.

“This should be streamlined by the state environment action committee, which is chaired by the environment exco of each state government.

“This is the best way for integrated action to be taken,” he told reporters after the launch of the National Environment Day 2023 at the Iskandar Puteri Forest City here today.

The event was launched by the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.

Also present were natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

According to the Water Quality Index, 29 out of the 672 rivers nationwide were in the polluted category last year.

The states listed with polluted rivers include Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Penang, Sarawak, Selangor, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. - FMT