THE Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has implemented an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) plan to identify the causes of pollution in Sungai Juru recently.
Speaking to Buletin Mutiara, state DID director Ooi Soon Lee said that through this river basin management effort, several action plans have been outlined to address the problems in the polluted area.
“Among the objectives of this plan are to ensure sufficient and clean water, reduce flood risks, and conserve the environment.
“The implementation process of the components outlined in the plan will be carried out by various agencies.
“Therefore, river basin management must be addressed in an integrated manner, where each technical agency, including the local authorities, must work together to tackle the issue of river cleanliness,” he said.
Ooi also said that his department would carry out both short-term and long-term plans to resolve this longstanding issue.
“Through the scheduled maintenance work that has been carried out, the total waste collected in Sungai Juru was 85 tonnes in 2023, which decreased by four tonnes to 81 tonnes in 2024,” he said.
He explained that river pollution is usually categorised into two sources — fixed and non-fixed.
“Fixed source pollution results from food premises, small industries, vehicle workshops, and the release of sewage and domestic waste from traditional settlements.
“Meanwhile, pollution from non-fixed sources involves surface runoff that carries pollutants into the river.
“The dominant parameter identified as contributing to river pollution in Penang is ammoniacal nitrogen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the council would collaborate with the state DID to address the issue.
“We view this matter seriously, and we always cooperate with other agencies to curb pollution,” he said.
Baderul also mentioned that the council’s facilities within a 5km radius are operating efficiently.
Regarding action to be taken against offenders, Baderul added that compounds would be issued to owners of premises found guilty of violations.
“We have also distributed 62,000 pamphlets on the waste segregation at source initiative to households in Seberang Perai,” he added.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar