VARIOUS initiatives have been planned to enhance the cleanliness of the Sungai Pinang River, says state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
He said dredging works, which are set to take place in May, are among the initiatives undertaken by the state government to help tackle the pollution issue of the Sungai Pinang River.
“We will be carrying out the dredging works at three locations, namely, nearby the Taman Areca in Karpal Singh Drive, Sungai Mati riverbank and the Sungai Pinang estuary.
“The dredging works will cost nearly RM450,000 and they will help to clean the sediments in the river.
“Apart from that, we will also be increasing the frequency of rubbish collection at the log boom near the Sungai Pinang River,” Zairil said after visiting the Sungai Pinang River log boom rubbish collection site today.
Zairil also shared that the construction of a parallel drain that comes under the Sungai Pinang Flood Mitigation project (RTB Sungai Pinang) would be instrumental in tackling pollution.
“We (state government) have requested the construction of the parallel drain to be part of the project (RTB Sungai Pinang).
“The parallel drain will help to prevent rubbish from entering the river. Thus, help to enhance the river’s water quality.
“The parallel drain, which is an underground system, will filter the drain water and releases it to the sea.
“According to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Malaysia, the Phase One of the RTB Sungai Pinang will be opened for tender by the third quarter of this year,” he added.
However, Zairil said the river could only be free from pollution when people stop dumping rubbish into the river.
“The state government can increase its effort to keep the river clean but, in the end, it is the people who must play their part.
“There are two ways where rubbish can get into the river, one is when people dump them into the river.
“The other way is when the drain water level rises. The drain water will then carry the rubbish from the road surface to the river,” he said.
State Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, who was also present, said the state government (since 2008) has undertaken various measures to improve the Sungai Pinang River’s water quality.
“The water quality was at Category Four and Five previously, but we have improved it to Category Three and Two.
“We also hope that the people will have the awareness of keeping the river clean,” Phee added.
Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim urged the public to be more civic-minded and protect the river.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting