Company managing Pulau Burung landfill may have contract terminated

 

The Pulau Burung landfill has since been declared a Level 1 disaster area based on National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20. - NSTP/DANIAL SAAD

GEORGE TOWN: The company which manages the Pulau Burung landfill may have their concession contract, awarded through open tender in September 2012, terminated if it failed to comply with the terms of the agreement.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in the state executive council meeting yesterday, reports were received from, among others, the Local Government Division (BKT), State Secretary's Office and the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) on the fire at the landfill last Wednesday.

However, he said the state executive council still wanted a report on the management at the landfill.

"This is because from what was tabled, there are believed to be weaknesses in terms of operations.

"The state executive councillors have directed the BKT as well as the MBSP to look into actions which can be taken in the event of non-compliance of the agreement terms in the concession contract," he said today.

PLB Terang Sdn Bhd was chosen to manage the landfill through the open tender assessment panel in 2012 for a 20-year concession period.

Among the scope of work in the concession agreement is that the company is compelled to manage the operations of Phase 1 and 2 of the landfill, which was opened in the 1980s, and complete Phase 3 to receive waste when Phase 1 and 2 closes.

Asked on the use of incinerators to replace the landfill, Chow said the state government is prepared to consider it.

"However, if the company has other alternatives using another form of technology, they can bring it up with the state government for consideration.

"Based on the current trend, the state government is studying other technologies and methods in the disposal of waste as well," he added.

Chow also added that under the terms of the concession contract in 2012, the scope included constructing a "material recovery facility" (MRF).

He added that the facility was needed to receive waste for the recycling process.

It was reported that more than 4ha of the 16ha landfill burned in the fire on Wednesday afternoon.

However, toxic fumes at the landfill resulted in air pollution which affected the nearby Ladang Byram and Kampung Kebun Baru, prompting the evacuation of some 400 people from both villages.

Ten schools within a 10km radius of the landfill were also ordered to close for three days until tomorrow.

Earlier this morning, the Fire and Rescue Department carried out a second round of water bombing at the landfill.

The Pulau Burung landfill has since been declared a Level 1 disaster area based on National Security Council (NSC) Directive No. 20.

Meanwhile, State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus, in describing the landfill fire as the worst disaster, said operations to extinguish the fire were ongoing.

He said he was informed that the fire extinguishing exercise was conducted based on zones, and data showed each zone reported between 30 and 50 per cent of fire had been extinguished. - NST