LUAS takes immediate action to deal with the pollution of Sungai Kuang

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) is implementing immediate action to deal with odor pollution of around 3 TONS (Threshold Value Odor Number) in Sungai Kuang, Selangor which was detected yesterday (Friday, October 30) following the incident of a burning plastic processing plant upstream of Sungai Kuang.

Selangor State Executive Council (EXCO) member, Hee Loy Sian said, the effort was done in an integrated manner involving LUAS, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Air Selangor) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

"LUAS detected the fire incident near Sungai Kuang when conducting the Water Resources Op at about 10pm yesterday.

"Based on the information, the Selangor State Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia informed, the fire incident of the premises occurred around 6 pm.

"Investigations by LUAS and Air Selangor found that the fire waste had frozen on the water surface, but the black residue from the effects of the fuel flowed into the waterway upstream of the Kuang River, causing the odor effect to be around 3 TONS through the odor sampling that has been implemented.

The distance of the incident to the face of the nearest water treatment plant (LRA) in Rantau Panjang is estimated at 33km, "he said in a statement here on Saturday.

In the meantime, Loy Sian said, until now his party is in the process of stopping the fire waste from flowing into the river through the proposed construction of land tires at the location.

"LUAS and Air Selangor implemented the first step to deodorize by placing 43 bags of activated carbon to control pollution in Sungai Kundang (inflow from Sungai Kuang) at once to prevent the smell from the fire residue flowing up to Sungai Sembah and then to Sungai Selangor.

"LUAS will also issue a Water Protection Order under Section 122, LUAS Enactment 1999 to the factories involved regarding the risks and threats of the incident to the quality of water resources," he said.

Commenting further, he said, however, there was no stopping of LRA duties and no water supply disruption to consumers was reported.

"Follow-up mitigation measures and close monitoring from time to time are carried out by LUAS together with the parties involved.

"The Selangor State Government is always committed in ensuring the sustainability of water resources in the State of Selangor and calls on all to be concerned about the sensitive areas of state water resources, especially rivers," he said.