Factory owner called to assist the investigation into Sg Semenyih pollution

 

Police have called the owner of a machinery factory premises to assist in the investigation into the diesel odour pollution incident at the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Jenderam Hilir in Dengkil, Sepang, yesterday.

Sepang deputy police chief Supt Md Noor Aehwan Mohammad said investigation papers were opened after receiving a report from an Air Selangor Sdn Bhd employee at 8.58am on the incident of foul odour at Sungai Semenyih WTP water intake point in Jenderam Hilir.

He said the inspection by the complainant detected suspected pollutants in the water inlet that flowed into Sungai Semenyih.

According to Md Noor, authorities such as Air Selangor, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas) and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) have investigated the scene and suspected pollution coming from a factory.

Follow-up investigations by Luas, Air Selangor and police at factory premises did not find any effluent discharge, but there was an underground stream suspected of channelling waste which appeared like oil, he said in a statement today.

Md Noor said the Forensic Unit of the Selangor contingent police headquarters had taken five water samples as mentioned by the complainant, at the WTP intake point and from the suspected factory premises.

All samples sent to Department of Chemistry

"The sample taken by the complainant was also handed over to the investigating officer for comparison. All samples were sent to the Department of Chemistry for further action," he said.

Md Noor said the complainant was the first individual to detect the foul odour.

According to him, the owner of the premises claimed his premises did not discharge effluent into Sungai Semenyih as the premises had a filter to treat the waste before being channelled into the culvert outside the premises.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 430 of the Penal Code for allegedly committing mischief by causing a disruption in the supply of water for agriculture, and consumption by consumers.

Water Supply in 463 areas in five districts namely Petaling, Hulu Langat, Sepang, Putrajaya and Kuala Langat experienced water supply disruption yesterday, after Air Selangor detected diesel odour pollution in Sungai Semenyih.

According to Air Selangor, the water supply in all affected areas is expected to be fully restored by 11.30pm tonight.

Yesterday, Selangor Tourism and Environment Committee chairperson Hee Loy Sian reportedly said the Sepang Municipal Council would seal the factory premises, which carries out maintenance of heavy machinery, for allegedly causing the pollution.

- Bernama