Man behind water crisis says SORRY

NO DEAL: Council warns owner of depot that dumped oil in river

KUALA LUMPUR: THE owner of a garbage truck depot, who allegedly dumped engine oil into Sungai Bakau, yesterday turned himself in at the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS)..

MPS president Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said the owner, known as Mok, showed up at the council's office around 3pm, bearing a letter of apology.

"He came with the letter and explained that he could not show up earlier because he was away."

Azizi said he had spoken to Mok personally and told the 55-year-old man that he had caused a major dilemma in the Klang Valley.

Mok, he said, indicated to him his intention to continue operations at the depot for three more months before relocating.

"I told him 'no' and that he could no longer operate the depot," he said adding that the council was also investigating whether Mok had obtained proper approvals to build the depot in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172).

"If he did not comply with the law, we will issue another notice and compound," he said.

Mok had caused a massive water crisis when diesel from his depot was allegedly dumped into Sungai Bakau, resulting in the temporary closure of four water treatment plants catering to 57 per cent of the residents in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) director Md Khairi Selamat said the agency would calculate the cost of cleaning up the diesel oil from the river and claim the funds from the owner. Khairi also revealed that LUAS was in the process of gazetting the river reserve.

In Seri Manjung, Perak, Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid said Sungai Selangor should be gazetted as a security area in order to ensure the recent water pollution incident did not recur.

This, he said was important as the river was the only source of clean water for the millions of people in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), in an official statement released yesterday, said that up to 96 per cent of staggered water supply restoration in all districts was completed and that only a small percentage in four districts -- Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/Shah Alam and Gombak -- were still affected.

"The recovery will be staggered and will take two days with a complete recovery of supply within five days," said Syabas corporate communications and public affairs assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred.

Syabas lifted its 24-Hour "Code Red" Emergency Response Plan at 10am yesterday.

The pollution had forced the closure of the Selangor Phase 1 (SSP1), Selangor Phase 2 (SSP2), Selangor Phase 3 (SSP3) and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants on Friday.

- nst.com.my