Catfish pond owner compounded RM12,000 for polluting river

MELAKA:A catfish pond owner in Masjid Tanah here was slapped with a RM12,000 compound yesterday for polluting Sungai Baru in February last year.

State Agriculture, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Committee chairman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee said the compound was issued by the state government through the Melaka Water Regulatory Authority (BKSA).

He said the effluent released from the catfish pond had caused odour pollution at Sungai Baru up to the Masjid Tanah town.

“The pollution was detected in February last year and action has been taken under Section 39(a) of the Water Resources Enactment (Melaka) 2014,” he told a news conference here, today.

Norhizam said for recurring offence, the catfish pond owner could face a maximum compound of RM125,000 or RM1,000 per day for the pollution period.

He urged local residents to report any activities that could cause pollution to BKSA or directly to him.

Meanwhile, state BKSA director Faizah Abdul Rahman @ Sulaiman said nine investigation papers on water pollution cases have been opened from January 2020 until January this year, of which two cases have been issued with compounds amounting to RM22,000.

-- BERNAMA