By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, March 14 — The Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) is studying several measures to address activities carried out near river banks that have been identified as pollution risks.
Luas said the study includes allowing the release of effluent based on the river capacity to ensure that the river can cope with the amount released from premises.
“Aside from that, Luas is also analysing the zero-disposal policy in accordance with Section 44 (1) (b) of the Luas Enactment 1999 to be implemented in the future to reduce the impact of river pollution,” Kosmo! reported yesterday.
The agency said a total of 1,187 activities were discovered to have caused pollution to six river banks.
It said the total involved 537 activities that are pollution risks to Sungai Sembah, Sungai Klang (475), Sungai Damansara (100), Sungai Semenyih (60), Sungai Beranang (9) and Sungai Rinching (6).
Based on the findings by Luas, activities that could cause pollution include industrial, farming, residential, business, services, poultry farming and aquaculture.
“Throughout last year, 19 pollution cases categorised as ‘yellow code’ were successfully resolved which prevented the suspension to the operation of water treatment plants (WTPs), while 10 pollution incidents categorised as ‘red code’ had caused the suspension to the WTPs.
“During the same period, 12 pollution cases were caused by release of effluent or waste disposal from factories and business premises,” it added.