No EIA, but rape of forest reserve begins
Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 09:17am
© New Straits Times (Used by permission)by Brenda Lim
PANGKOR: A company building an organic farm-cum-resort near Teluk Dalam is felling trees and levelling hills without an Environmental Impact Assessment report.
A visit by the New Straits Times to the 0.75ha tract of land at the North Pangkor Forest Reserve found excavators being used to level hills which were at least 30m high.
Trees felled in the area were chain-sawed into beams and used to build several structures there, while a pond was dug to pump out groundwater flowing along a water channel.
There is work going on to build a make-shift jetty on the beach using boulders, timber and sand from the forest reserve.
Perak Department of Environment deputy director Norazizi Adinan said the department had yet to receive an EIA report from Global Hi-Q, the company responsible for the project.
Initial proposals for the project included building restaurants and chalets with over 80 rooms, all of which were subject to EIA conditions, he said.
Kinta/Manjung district forestry officer Abd Ramlizauyahhuddin Mahli said the the company was issued a user’s permit on Sept 16 for 20ha of the forest reserve for "rearing marine fish using biotechnology and cleaning seawater in Lumut".
The site, comprising three hectares of virgin forest and 17ha of production forest, contains some 500 trees, mostly species such as kelat, kandis and penarahan.
It also has some intermediate quality timber such as medang and nyatoh, and several quality species like balau and resak.
A recent check by Drainage and Irrigation officers found seawater near the cleared area "a little muddy".
"There could be problems if there was heavy rain, as the soil from the exposed hill would be washed into the sea," district engineer Roslan Sukimin said.
The soil could kill corals and block sunlight from reaching the underwater plants, thus affecting the food chain and sea ecology, he added.
Roslan also advised the company to follow guidelines under the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.
Environmentalists from the Perak Environmental Society and Malaysian Nature Society have been critical of the project, protesting that such development should not be allowed in a forest reserve.
Sitiawan state assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham said such development in a forest reserve was a violation of the law.
Monday, August 20, 2007
UGLY MALAYSIAN??
Thursday, 24-Oct-2002 7:09 AM
UGLY MALAYSIANS? South-South Investments Abused
Edited by Jomo K.S.
Published by the Institute for Black Research Durban, 2002
TENAGA KHEMAS SDN BHD
Tenaga Khemas is chaired by Dato' Kanagalingam Velupillai (V.K. Lingam) and it is recorded as a dormant company in Malaysia. Towards the end of 1995, the company secured a 87,554 ha concession in the Berbice river region of Guyana. Tenaga Khemas owns 85% and 80% of two other companies operating in Guyana, UNAMCO and Case Timbers respectively.
UNAMCO has been logging a 96,000 ha concession since 1991, and has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an Exploratory Lease of 345,000 ha.
Case Timbers has owned a 62,000 ha concession since 1993, and is scheduled to obtain an Exploratory Lease of 205,000 ha contiguous with its existing concession and the concession held by UNAMCO. On 21 July 1997, Case Timbers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government for the construction of a US$40 million plywood plant. The plant, which is estimated to produce 7,000 cu m of plywood per month is expected to be operational by the end of 1998.
Velupillai Kanagalingam, the head of Tenaga Khemas, has openly admitted that he holds an interest in both Case Timbers and UNAMCO for Berjaya Sdn Bhd. Both Case and UNAMCO are working jointly with Berjaya in existing concessions in Guyana.
While inspecting a logging road in November 1997, an officer of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) discovered that UNAMCO had been logging its concession without permission. Less than a week after the discovery of this illegal logging, the President of Guyana held a ceremony to open the main logging road in the concession, despite the fact that the EIA on the road had been rejected as inadequate by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EIA for the road had still not been approved in 1998. It was later confirmed that UNAMCO had cut at least 15,000 trees illegally and was operating without approval for its Environemntal Impact Assessment for its logging concession. This is also illegal in Guyana. The company was fined a paltry US$7142 by a special government committee established to investigate the situation. The estimated value of the illegally felled trees is US$6.75 million. UNAMCO owes the government US$37,142 in outstanding acreage fees on other concessions since the beginning of 1997. UNAMCO claims that it has not made a Guyana cent from its operations in Guyana for the past three years.
The illegal logging activity took place either in UNAMCO's Timber Sales Agreement consession or in the controversial Exploratory Lease issued recently to the company by the Government. There are conflicting reports in both media and from the Government concerning exactly where the illegal activity took place. Since the fine was announced, UNAMCO has aggressively tried to have the Guyana Forestry Commission removed from any further dealings in the matter. In a letter to the President of Guyana, UNAMCO's director described relations between them and the company and the GFC as 'critical'. He urged the president to intervene directly and 'decisively' to resolve the dispute. As a result, the UNAMCO files were taken out of the GFC's hands.
As stated in an editorial in the Guyanaese newspaper, the Starbroek News in February 1998, "The intervention by President Janet Jagan effectively took the issue out of the ambit of the GFC and the Minister responsible for forestry. It sent a signal that big forestry operators could bypass essential requirements set out by the GFC by appealing directly to the head of government. It thereby undermines the authority of the GFC which has sweeping and onerous obligations in acting as conservator of forests and ensuring that operators abide by the tenants of good forestry practice." The GFC is weak and understaffed as it is, if it has to constantly worry about logging companies undermining its authority by running to the President, it will never have the credibility or authority needed to ensure that logging operations are conducted sustainably.
According to the Amerindian People's Association, Guyana's primary indigenous organisation, "The recent case of the UNAMCO highlights the inadequacy of the GFC to monitor logging operations. If this situation has been taking place with UNAMCO and has only now been found out, how many other irregular activities are taking place in other concessions throughout Guyana? These concessions were granted without Amerindian
participation, without regard for Amerindian land and other rights and as illustrated in this case, these companies are abusing the forest on which many Amerindians depend on their basic livelihood. The Wapisiana people in Region 9 have previously expressed concerns about an Exploratory Lease allocated to Malaysian company, Kwitaro, that includes their ancestral lands. In light of these events, the APA once again calls upon the Government to halt logging operations, until the rights of Amerindians to own and control their ancestral territories and forest resources are fully recognised in accordance with international law.
UGLY MALAYSIANS? South-South Investments Abused
Edited by Jomo K.S.
Published by the Institute for Black Research Durban, 2002
TENAGA KHEMAS SDN BHD
Tenaga Khemas is chaired by Dato' Kanagalingam Velupillai (V.K. Lingam) and it is recorded as a dormant company in Malaysia. Towards the end of 1995, the company secured a 87,554 ha concession in the Berbice river region of Guyana. Tenaga Khemas owns 85% and 80% of two other companies operating in Guyana, UNAMCO and Case Timbers respectively.
UNAMCO has been logging a 96,000 ha concession since 1991, and has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an Exploratory Lease of 345,000 ha.
Case Timbers has owned a 62,000 ha concession since 1993, and is scheduled to obtain an Exploratory Lease of 205,000 ha contiguous with its existing concession and the concession held by UNAMCO. On 21 July 1997, Case Timbers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government for the construction of a US$40 million plywood plant. The plant, which is estimated to produce 7,000 cu m of plywood per month is expected to be operational by the end of 1998.
Velupillai Kanagalingam, the head of Tenaga Khemas, has openly admitted that he holds an interest in both Case Timbers and UNAMCO for Berjaya Sdn Bhd. Both Case and UNAMCO are working jointly with Berjaya in existing concessions in Guyana.
While inspecting a logging road in November 1997, an officer of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) discovered that UNAMCO had been logging its concession without permission. Less than a week after the discovery of this illegal logging, the President of Guyana held a ceremony to open the main logging road in the concession, despite the fact that the EIA on the road had been rejected as inadequate by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EIA for the road had still not been approved in 1998. It was later confirmed that UNAMCO had cut at least 15,000 trees illegally and was operating without approval for its Environemntal Impact Assessment for its logging concession. This is also illegal in Guyana. The company was fined a paltry US$7142 by a special government committee established to investigate the situation. The estimated value of the illegally felled trees is US$6.75 million. UNAMCO owes the government US$37,142 in outstanding acreage fees on other concessions since the beginning of 1997. UNAMCO claims that it has not made a Guyana cent from its operations in Guyana for the past three years.
The illegal logging activity took place either in UNAMCO's Timber Sales Agreement consession or in the controversial Exploratory Lease issued recently to the company by the Government. There are conflicting reports in both media and from the Government concerning exactly where the illegal activity took place. Since the fine was announced, UNAMCO has aggressively tried to have the Guyana Forestry Commission removed from any further dealings in the matter. In a letter to the President of Guyana, UNAMCO's director described relations between them and the company and the GFC as 'critical'. He urged the president to intervene directly and 'decisively' to resolve the dispute. As a result, the UNAMCO files were taken out of the GFC's hands.
As stated in an editorial in the Guyanaese newspaper, the Starbroek News in February 1998, "The intervention by President Janet Jagan effectively took the issue out of the ambit of the GFC and the Minister responsible for forestry. It sent a signal that big forestry operators could bypass essential requirements set out by the GFC by appealing directly to the head of government. It thereby undermines the authority of the GFC which has sweeping and onerous obligations in acting as conservator of forests and ensuring that operators abide by the tenants of good forestry practice." The GFC is weak and understaffed as it is, if it has to constantly worry about logging companies undermining its authority by running to the President, it will never have the credibility or authority needed to ensure that logging operations are conducted sustainably.
According to the Amerindian People's Association, Guyana's primary indigenous organisation, "The recent case of the UNAMCO highlights the inadequacy of the GFC to monitor logging operations. If this situation has been taking place with UNAMCO and has only now been found out, how many other irregular activities are taking place in other concessions throughout Guyana? These concessions were granted without Amerindian
participation, without regard for Amerindian land and other rights and as illustrated in this case, these companies are abusing the forest on which many Amerindians depend on their basic livelihood. The Wapisiana people in Region 9 have previously expressed concerns about an Exploratory Lease allocated to Malaysian company, Kwitaro, that includes their ancestral lands. In light of these events, the APA once again calls upon the Government to halt logging operations, until the rights of Amerindians to own and control their ancestral territories and forest resources are fully recognised in accordance with international law.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Monkey export ban lifted
Saturday August 18, 2007
PUTRAJAYA: Monkeys can now be caught and exported and the authorities claim it is to please urban folk who have been complaining that the animals have been creating problems for them.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the Cabinet, at its meeting on June 27, agreed to lift the ban to export monkeys found in urban areas as the public had complained of having foodstuff stolen and being attacked by the animals.
However, he gave an assurance that there would not be “total elimination” of the long-tailed macaque from city areas and they would still be allowed to roam around as long as the numbers were “ideal.”
Azmi said the human-monkey contact became more frequent after the animal’s natural habitat was cleared to make way for development, including creating new residential areas.
He said a solution to the “confrontation” had to be sought.
“I realise we will be getting a lot of heat from other countries and even non-governmental organisations but this solution is necessary after other efforts have failed. We have tried transporting them to other areas as well as sterilising them but monkeys breed too quickly.
“Our main concern now is to ensure that only experts are allowed to catch the monkeys because we do not want them to be put under stress, abused or tortured. The other important point is that only monkeys found in cities can be caught and not those in their natural habitat,” he told a press conference yesterday.
According to the Wildlife Department’s statistics, there are 742,000 long-tailed macaques in the country, of which 258,000 are found in city areas, including Kuala Lumpur.
The Government, in 1984, had imposed a ban on the export of long-tailed macaques following a reduction in the monkey population and the ban stayed for 23 years until last month.
“I must stress that the long-tailed macaque is not a threatened species in Malaysia,'' Azmi said.
PUTRAJAYA: Monkeys can now be caught and exported and the authorities claim it is to please urban folk who have been complaining that the animals have been creating problems for them.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the Cabinet, at its meeting on June 27, agreed to lift the ban to export monkeys found in urban areas as the public had complained of having foodstuff stolen and being attacked by the animals.
However, he gave an assurance that there would not be “total elimination” of the long-tailed macaque from city areas and they would still be allowed to roam around as long as the numbers were “ideal.”
Azmi said the human-monkey contact became more frequent after the animal’s natural habitat was cleared to make way for development, including creating new residential areas.
He said a solution to the “confrontation” had to be sought.
“I realise we will be getting a lot of heat from other countries and even non-governmental organisations but this solution is necessary after other efforts have failed. We have tried transporting them to other areas as well as sterilising them but monkeys breed too quickly.
“Our main concern now is to ensure that only experts are allowed to catch the monkeys because we do not want them to be put under stress, abused or tortured. The other important point is that only monkeys found in cities can be caught and not those in their natural habitat,” he told a press conference yesterday.
According to the Wildlife Department’s statistics, there are 742,000 long-tailed macaques in the country, of which 258,000 are found in city areas, including Kuala Lumpur.
The Government, in 1984, had imposed a ban on the export of long-tailed macaques following a reduction in the monkey population and the ban stayed for 23 years until last month.
“I must stress that the long-tailed macaque is not a threatened species in Malaysia,'' Azmi said.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Illegal waste-dumping by approved collectors
Friday August 17, 2007
By DHARMENDER SINGH
KAPAR: Week-long surveillance by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has found garbage collection contractors from at least three local authorities dumping waste illegally at a plot of land in Kampung Bukit Kapar here.
Selangor Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng said enforcement officers from MPK had photographs of the lorries belonging to contractors from Klang, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam councils.
“All the councils responsible have been told to check the registration numbers of the lorries photographed to identify the contractors involved and we will terminate their contracts immediately,” he told reporters after visiting the illegal dump together with officials from MPK and the Department Of Environment (DOE) on Friday.
He also sounded a warning to contractors that the state government would not tolerate any breach of contract, especially when it involved illegal dumping, and would take strict action against errant contractors.
Ch’ng said in the Kampung Bukit Kapar case, the contractor would face action for illegal dumping while the landowner would face action for flouting environment laws.
“We are also investigating to find out if there are people `managing’ this illegal dump and if so we will also take action against them,” he said.
He said surveillance at the illegal dump was carried out following complaints from nearby villagers over the illegal dumping and the foul smell emitted from the area.
He said the illegal activities had been carried out for the last two months and some of the waste had also been set on fire.
Ch’ng added that the contractors were supposed to send the waste to the dumpsite in Jeram, located about 10km from Kapar, but chose to take the easy way out by dumping at the illegal site
By DHARMENDER SINGH
KAPAR: Week-long surveillance by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has found garbage collection contractors from at least three local authorities dumping waste illegally at a plot of land in Kampung Bukit Kapar here.
Selangor Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng said enforcement officers from MPK had photographs of the lorries belonging to contractors from Klang, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam councils.
“All the councils responsible have been told to check the registration numbers of the lorries photographed to identify the contractors involved and we will terminate their contracts immediately,” he told reporters after visiting the illegal dump together with officials from MPK and the Department Of Environment (DOE) on Friday.
He also sounded a warning to contractors that the state government would not tolerate any breach of contract, especially when it involved illegal dumping, and would take strict action against errant contractors.
Ch’ng said in the Kampung Bukit Kapar case, the contractor would face action for illegal dumping while the landowner would face action for flouting environment laws.
“We are also investigating to find out if there are people `managing’ this illegal dump and if so we will also take action against them,” he said.
He said surveillance at the illegal dump was carried out following complaints from nearby villagers over the illegal dumping and the foul smell emitted from the area.
He said the illegal activities had been carried out for the last two months and some of the waste had also been set on fire.
Ch’ng added that the contractors were supposed to send the waste to the dumpsite in Jeram, located about 10km from Kapar, but chose to take the easy way out by dumping at the illegal site
Illegal factories next on Selangor hit list
BY GEETHA KRISHNAN
NOW that Selangor is almost a squatter-free state, the Selangor government is bent on getting rid off illegal factories.
Attractive incentives are being given for illegal factory operators to ensure they legalise their operations within a stipulated timeframe, after which action will be taken against them.
Environmentalists and other concerned individuals like residents living near these illegal factories are unhappy with thejavascript:void(0)
Publish Post state’s project to legalise illegal factories for reasons like pollution, damage to infrastructure and general disturbance.
The state government contends the legalisation agenda is for the common good because the 3,165 illegal factories recorded in a census export products worth RM3bil annually, not to mention the 150,000 job opportunities available to locals and foreigners.
At the same time, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has maintained a clear stance that threats to public health and safety will not be condoned nor tolerated.
Illegal factories that caused noise and air or water pollution would be fined, ordered to cease operations or to shift operations elsewhere. By definition, factories operating without permits, business licences or Certificates of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on land meant for residential, agricultural or commercial purposes or on government reserve land are deemed illegal.
The legalisation circular was issued on July 31, 2006.
However, the legalisation process comes with certain conditions like the discounts offered for land conversion that only apply to factory operators who own the land.
Incentives in the state government’s package include reduced industrial land premiums and staggered premium payments stretched over 12 months for those who cannot make lump sum payments.
Under the package announced in June, factory owners will enjoy a 50% discount on land premiums paid within three months of the conversion approval. Those who pay up within six and nine months are entitled to 30% and 10% discounts respectively.
At a briefing for factory operators in April, state Housing, Building and Squatters Management Committee chairman Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan said areas occupied by illegal factories lacked basic infrastructure like roads, lighting, drains and sewerage facilities.
“Through the legalisation agenda, we want to ensure all requirements concerning layout, building plans and safety are met by working with the Environment Department, Fire and Rescue Services Department, Syabas and TNB,” he told a press conference.
Illegal factory operators in the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone gave much thought to legalising their operations years ago.
Balakong assemblyman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee told StarMetro the area now serves as a benchmark for other operators concerned with doing things by the book.
The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone has 220 factory lots, spread over 200ha. The area was originally classified as agricultural land.
“When the idea of legalising their businesses was proposed in 1995, the factory operators set up the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone Landowners and Factory Operators Association.
“They sought the advice of the Hulu Langat Public Works Department and the Environment Department.
“Efforts were also taken to look at the masterplan for Balakong,” Hoh said.
“The operators also pooled their resources to raise RM200,000 to conduct a topography study and engineering design to improve the infrastructure,” he said. The figure collected so far is RM7mil. Plots of land were also reserved for the future use of TNB and Syabas.”
The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone comes under the Kajang Municipal Council. Next to the Klang Municipal Council, MPKj has the highest number of illegal factories in Selangor.
Around 614 illegal factories operate under the municipality and the concentration is in Balakong, Semenyih, Dusun Tua, Hulu Langat, Sungai Chua and Simpang Balak.
Only 58% of illegal factory operators in Selangor have applied for licences. Although it was the intention of the state government to declare itself an illegal factory-free state in 2005, the journey will be a long one.
NOW that Selangor is almost a squatter-free state, the Selangor government is bent on getting rid off illegal factories.
Attractive incentives are being given for illegal factory operators to ensure they legalise their operations within a stipulated timeframe, after which action will be taken against them.
Environmentalists and other concerned individuals like residents living near these illegal factories are unhappy with thejavascript:void(0)
Publish Post state’s project to legalise illegal factories for reasons like pollution, damage to infrastructure and general disturbance.
The state government contends the legalisation agenda is for the common good because the 3,165 illegal factories recorded in a census export products worth RM3bil annually, not to mention the 150,000 job opportunities available to locals and foreigners.
At the same time, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has maintained a clear stance that threats to public health and safety will not be condoned nor tolerated.
Illegal factories that caused noise and air or water pollution would be fined, ordered to cease operations or to shift operations elsewhere. By definition, factories operating without permits, business licences or Certificates of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on land meant for residential, agricultural or commercial purposes or on government reserve land are deemed illegal.
The legalisation circular was issued on July 31, 2006.
However, the legalisation process comes with certain conditions like the discounts offered for land conversion that only apply to factory operators who own the land.
Incentives in the state government’s package include reduced industrial land premiums and staggered premium payments stretched over 12 months for those who cannot make lump sum payments.
Under the package announced in June, factory owners will enjoy a 50% discount on land premiums paid within three months of the conversion approval. Those who pay up within six and nine months are entitled to 30% and 10% discounts respectively.
At a briefing for factory operators in April, state Housing, Building and Squatters Management Committee chairman Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan said areas occupied by illegal factories lacked basic infrastructure like roads, lighting, drains and sewerage facilities.
“Through the legalisation agenda, we want to ensure all requirements concerning layout, building plans and safety are met by working with the Environment Department, Fire and Rescue Services Department, Syabas and TNB,” he told a press conference.
Illegal factory operators in the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone gave much thought to legalising their operations years ago.
Balakong assemblyman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee told StarMetro the area now serves as a benchmark for other operators concerned with doing things by the book.
The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone has 220 factory lots, spread over 200ha. The area was originally classified as agricultural land.
“When the idea of legalising their businesses was proposed in 1995, the factory operators set up the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone Landowners and Factory Operators Association.
“They sought the advice of the Hulu Langat Public Works Department and the Environment Department.
“Efforts were also taken to look at the masterplan for Balakong,” Hoh said.
“The operators also pooled their resources to raise RM200,000 to conduct a topography study and engineering design to improve the infrastructure,” he said. The figure collected so far is RM7mil. Plots of land were also reserved for the future use of TNB and Syabas.”
The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone comes under the Kajang Municipal Council. Next to the Klang Municipal Council, MPKj has the highest number of illegal factories in Selangor.
Around 614 illegal factories operate under the municipality and the concentration is in Balakong, Semenyih, Dusun Tua, Hulu Langat, Sungai Chua and Simpang Balak.
Only 58% of illegal factory operators in Selangor have applied for licences. Although it was the intention of the state government to declare itself an illegal factory-free state in 2005, the journey will be a long one.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Ammonia jadi beban pencemaran sungai
RENCANA
Oleh ZAINI UJANG
15/02/2007
PENCEMARAN Sungai Langat adalah suatu tragedi yang perlu ditangani dengan serius oleh semua pihak. Menurut laporan akhbar Utusan Malaysia semalam, air sungai itu disahkan mengandungi kandungan ammonia yang tinggi iaitu 9.7 miligram setiap liter.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Selangor, Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar menyebut bahawa loji kumbahan Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) gagal berfungsi menyebabkan berlaku pelepasan air kumbahan yang mencemarkan sungai serta menjejaskan operasi dua buah loji rawatan air di Bukit Tampoi, Sepang dan Batu 11, Hulu Langat.
Dari segi teknologi, loji kumbahan tidak sukar untuk direka bentuk, atau dibina, untuk menyingkirkan ammonia, asalkan pembiayaannya mencukupi. Banyak teknologi telah dibangun dan digunakan dengan meluas di pelbagai negara menghasilkan risiko dan kesan alam sekitar yang minimum. Dalam konteks perbincangan ini, pada hemat saya, isu yang lebih relevan untuk difahami dan dihayati adalah (a) konsep kawasan tadahan hujan dan (b) beban pencemaran.
Pengurusan lembangan sungai merupakan isu pokok dalam kes ini. Pelbagai aktiviti, loji dan operasi guna tanah yang berisiko mencemarkan sungai tersebut terletak di hulu loji pengolahan air.
Dari segi konsep, kawasan huluan dalam sesuatu tadahan hujan haruslah bebas daripada aktiviti-aktiviti yang berkemungkinan boleh mencemarkan kualiti air. Di kebanyakan negara yang maju dari segi pengurusan air, sebagai contoh Jepun dan Australia, hanya aktiviti pembalakan dan pertanian sahaja yang dibenarkan ditempatkan di hulu loji rawatan air.
Jika kawasan tersebut terdapat kawasan perumahan maka air kumbahan akan dialirkan ke loji kumbahan yang ditempatkan hilir lokasi loji rawatan air tersebut. Dalam keadaan sedemikian pun ada masalahnya, iaitu pencemaran sisa pestisid dan baja dari ladang, serta kandungan bahan organik asli dari kawasan hutan.
Biasanya, loji rawatan air sisa, termasuk kumbahan yang diluluskan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar hanya merawat 23 bahan cemar air, yang merangkumi dua parameter sisa organik, pepejal terampa, parameter fizikal, bahan kimia dan logam berat. Dari segi perundangan, bahan-bahan organik seperti ammonia, nitrat, nitrit dan fosforus tidak termasuk dalam senarai yang perlu disingkirkan.
Sehubungan itu, hampir semua loji kumbahan dan sisa industri di Malaysia tidak direka bentuk untuk merawat ammonia dan bahan-bahan yang tidak tersenarai dalam Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979.
Persoalannya, air sungai yang mengandungi kandungan ammonia melebihi 1.5 miligram seliter tidak sesuai dijadikan sumber air minuman. Ini kerana operator loji rawatan air terpaksa menggunakan bahan kimia yang banyak yang pasti meningkatkan kos operasi.
Selain itu, ammonia seringkali dijadikan petunjuk untuk menandakan bahan cemar berasal dari sumber najis.
Bagi mengatasi masalah ini, saya mencadangkan agar pindaan terhadap Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979 itu diperbaharui dengan memasukkan komponen nutrien.
Dalam hal ini, kita juga perlu memberi penghargaan kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pembetungan (JPP) dan syarikat IWK sebagai operator loji kerana telah mengambil inisiatif proaktif dengan mensyaratkan penyingkiran sebatian nitrogen termasuk ammonia dalam reka bentuk loji yang terbaru, termasuk loji berpusat di Jelutong dan Port Dickson.
Isu kedua ialah tentang beban pencemaran (pollution loading). Bagi banyak pihak, termasuk pihak penguat kuasa di negara ini, beban pencemaran tertumpu kepada aspek kualiti atau kepekatan najis atau sesuatu jenis sisa dalam unit tertentu, biasanya miligram bagi setiap liter.
Itulah unit yang digunakan dengan meluas termasuklah dalam peruntukan perundangan yang ada kini di bawah Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979. Saya kira kita perlu menghormati perundangan dan standard yang ada, tetapi kita juga tidak wajar berlapang dada kerana ilmu dan kemahiran dalam bidang ini kian berkembang. Banyak yang boleh kita pelajari dan perbaiki.
Dalam hal ini saya ingin mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan agar beban pencemaran untuk efluen di negara ini dikaji untuk dipertingkatkan lagi tahap keberkesanannya. Bagi jurutera reka bentuk, beban pencemaran yang lebih penting ialah kuantitinya, tidak sekadar kualiti efluen. Jika kuantitinya tinggi tetapi kepekatan bahan cemarnya masih rendah yang mematuhi Standard A misalnya, tidak bermakna efluen tersebut tidak mencemarkan sungai.
Ini kerana keupayaan sungai untuk menjalani proses pembersihan sendiri (self-purification) lebih banyak bergantung kepada kuantiti airnya.
Oleh yang demikian, ada rasionalnya agar peraturan yang ada kini dikaji semula kerana pengalaman kita menguruskan sungai dan menjalankan penyelidikan yang berkaitannya mendapati bahawa beban pencemaran dari aspek kualiti tidak mempunyai impak yang langsung kepada kebersihan sesuatu sungai atau laut.
Dalam konteks kumbahan dan sisa industri termasuklah sisa premis pemotongan babi, aspek kuantiti lebih signifikan. Jika kualiti efluen itu rendah daripada Standard B tetapi kecil dari segi kuantitinya, ia kurang mencemarkan sungai berbanding dengan efluen yang tinggi kuantitinya walaupun kualitinya mematuhi Standard A sekalipun.
Di kebanyakan negara maju, kebenaran untuk beroperasi bagi sesuatu loji rawatan kumbahan atau sisa industri juga tidak lagi terlalu terikat kepada sesuatu standard. Ia lebih banyak bergantung kepada keupayaan sebatang sungai untuk menampung beban pencemaran.
Ini bermakna, penetapan dan penguatkuasaan Sandard A atau B dalam konteks Malaysia, kurang impaknya untuk memastikan sungai bebas daripada pencemaran. Saya ingin mencadangkan supaya prinsip beban pencemaran (waste load allocation) dijadikan panduan untuk kelulusan sesebuah loji rawatan air sisa.
* PROFESOR IR. DR. ZAINI UJANG Dekan Fakulti Kejuruteraan Kimia dan Kejuruteraan Sumber Asli Institut Pengurusan Alam Sekitar dan Sumber Air, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP06007)
Oleh ZAINI UJANG
15/02/2007
PENCEMARAN Sungai Langat adalah suatu tragedi yang perlu ditangani dengan serius oleh semua pihak. Menurut laporan akhbar Utusan Malaysia semalam, air sungai itu disahkan mengandungi kandungan ammonia yang tinggi iaitu 9.7 miligram setiap liter.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Selangor, Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar menyebut bahawa loji kumbahan Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) gagal berfungsi menyebabkan berlaku pelepasan air kumbahan yang mencemarkan sungai serta menjejaskan operasi dua buah loji rawatan air di Bukit Tampoi, Sepang dan Batu 11, Hulu Langat.
Dari segi teknologi, loji kumbahan tidak sukar untuk direka bentuk, atau dibina, untuk menyingkirkan ammonia, asalkan pembiayaannya mencukupi. Banyak teknologi telah dibangun dan digunakan dengan meluas di pelbagai negara menghasilkan risiko dan kesan alam sekitar yang minimum. Dalam konteks perbincangan ini, pada hemat saya, isu yang lebih relevan untuk difahami dan dihayati adalah (a) konsep kawasan tadahan hujan dan (b) beban pencemaran.
Pengurusan lembangan sungai merupakan isu pokok dalam kes ini. Pelbagai aktiviti, loji dan operasi guna tanah yang berisiko mencemarkan sungai tersebut terletak di hulu loji pengolahan air.
Dari segi konsep, kawasan huluan dalam sesuatu tadahan hujan haruslah bebas daripada aktiviti-aktiviti yang berkemungkinan boleh mencemarkan kualiti air. Di kebanyakan negara yang maju dari segi pengurusan air, sebagai contoh Jepun dan Australia, hanya aktiviti pembalakan dan pertanian sahaja yang dibenarkan ditempatkan di hulu loji rawatan air.
Jika kawasan tersebut terdapat kawasan perumahan maka air kumbahan akan dialirkan ke loji kumbahan yang ditempatkan hilir lokasi loji rawatan air tersebut. Dalam keadaan sedemikian pun ada masalahnya, iaitu pencemaran sisa pestisid dan baja dari ladang, serta kandungan bahan organik asli dari kawasan hutan.
Biasanya, loji rawatan air sisa, termasuk kumbahan yang diluluskan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar hanya merawat 23 bahan cemar air, yang merangkumi dua parameter sisa organik, pepejal terampa, parameter fizikal, bahan kimia dan logam berat. Dari segi perundangan, bahan-bahan organik seperti ammonia, nitrat, nitrit dan fosforus tidak termasuk dalam senarai yang perlu disingkirkan.
Sehubungan itu, hampir semua loji kumbahan dan sisa industri di Malaysia tidak direka bentuk untuk merawat ammonia dan bahan-bahan yang tidak tersenarai dalam Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979.
Persoalannya, air sungai yang mengandungi kandungan ammonia melebihi 1.5 miligram seliter tidak sesuai dijadikan sumber air minuman. Ini kerana operator loji rawatan air terpaksa menggunakan bahan kimia yang banyak yang pasti meningkatkan kos operasi.
Selain itu, ammonia seringkali dijadikan petunjuk untuk menandakan bahan cemar berasal dari sumber najis.
Bagi mengatasi masalah ini, saya mencadangkan agar pindaan terhadap Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979 itu diperbaharui dengan memasukkan komponen nutrien.
Dalam hal ini, kita juga perlu memberi penghargaan kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pembetungan (JPP) dan syarikat IWK sebagai operator loji kerana telah mengambil inisiatif proaktif dengan mensyaratkan penyingkiran sebatian nitrogen termasuk ammonia dalam reka bentuk loji yang terbaru, termasuk loji berpusat di Jelutong dan Port Dickson.
Isu kedua ialah tentang beban pencemaran (pollution loading). Bagi banyak pihak, termasuk pihak penguat kuasa di negara ini, beban pencemaran tertumpu kepada aspek kualiti atau kepekatan najis atau sesuatu jenis sisa dalam unit tertentu, biasanya miligram bagi setiap liter.
Itulah unit yang digunakan dengan meluas termasuklah dalam peruntukan perundangan yang ada kini di bawah Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979. Saya kira kita perlu menghormati perundangan dan standard yang ada, tetapi kita juga tidak wajar berlapang dada kerana ilmu dan kemahiran dalam bidang ini kian berkembang. Banyak yang boleh kita pelajari dan perbaiki.
Dalam hal ini saya ingin mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan agar beban pencemaran untuk efluen di negara ini dikaji untuk dipertingkatkan lagi tahap keberkesanannya. Bagi jurutera reka bentuk, beban pencemaran yang lebih penting ialah kuantitinya, tidak sekadar kualiti efluen. Jika kuantitinya tinggi tetapi kepekatan bahan cemarnya masih rendah yang mematuhi Standard A misalnya, tidak bermakna efluen tersebut tidak mencemarkan sungai.
Ini kerana keupayaan sungai untuk menjalani proses pembersihan sendiri (self-purification) lebih banyak bergantung kepada kuantiti airnya.
Oleh yang demikian, ada rasionalnya agar peraturan yang ada kini dikaji semula kerana pengalaman kita menguruskan sungai dan menjalankan penyelidikan yang berkaitannya mendapati bahawa beban pencemaran dari aspek kualiti tidak mempunyai impak yang langsung kepada kebersihan sesuatu sungai atau laut.
Dalam konteks kumbahan dan sisa industri termasuklah sisa premis pemotongan babi, aspek kuantiti lebih signifikan. Jika kualiti efluen itu rendah daripada Standard B tetapi kecil dari segi kuantitinya, ia kurang mencemarkan sungai berbanding dengan efluen yang tinggi kuantitinya walaupun kualitinya mematuhi Standard A sekalipun.
Di kebanyakan negara maju, kebenaran untuk beroperasi bagi sesuatu loji rawatan kumbahan atau sisa industri juga tidak lagi terlalu terikat kepada sesuatu standard. Ia lebih banyak bergantung kepada keupayaan sebatang sungai untuk menampung beban pencemaran.
Ini bermakna, penetapan dan penguatkuasaan Sandard A atau B dalam konteks Malaysia, kurang impaknya untuk memastikan sungai bebas daripada pencemaran. Saya ingin mencadangkan supaya prinsip beban pencemaran (waste load allocation) dijadikan panduan untuk kelulusan sesebuah loji rawatan air sisa.
* PROFESOR IR. DR. ZAINI UJANG Dekan Fakulti Kejuruteraan Kimia dan Kejuruteraan Sumber Asli Institut Pengurusan Alam Sekitar dan Sumber Air, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP06007)
DOE asks for detailed EIA report on Sg Pulai petrochemical project
CURRENT ISSUE
Tuesday August 14, 2007
By A. LETCHUMANAN
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment has asked for a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on a petrochemical project at the Sungai Pulai estuary in Pontian, Johor.
National Resources and Environment deputy minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the request was made following reservations expressed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
"The MB has proposed a detailed EIA report in view of the sensitivity of the project and the huge mangrove swamp. He has valid concern," he told reporters after handing over the ISO 9001:2000 certification to Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) here today.
Sothinathan said the company undertaking the project had already submitted a comprehensive EIA report, which had been vetted and approved by the DOE last month.
"This is a new development and there has been a lot of public outcry," he said.
According to Sothinathan, after the detailed EIA report is completed, it would be displayed in public places so that the public, non-governmental organisations and government agencies could raise any issues, if there were any, within a stipulated grace period.
"If there are any objections, then there would be an inquiry before the EIA report is approved by the DOE," he said.
The company in question is involved in setting up a petroleum-bunkering hub on a reclaimed 40ha island in the vicinity of the Sungai Pulai estuary.
Commenting on illegal loggers in Sabah, Sothinathan described them as "bank robbers," saying these people conduct a survey of the forest area, target the suitable areas and within a short time, go in and collect as much wood as they can and disappear.
He said the illegal logging is taking place sporadically everywhere but has been controlled with the able vigilance of the forest rangers and tip-offs from the public.
"These illegal loggers are very well-organised. If they know they will get caught, they will run away. If they know they have the time, they will take whatever they want from the forest," he said.
Sothinathan was commenting on reports that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had busted a major illegal logging operation in the interior of Sabah, seizing 1,000 logs on 22 lorries yesterday.
He said it was difficult for the forest department, as it does not have the manpower to physically check the forests in the country.
"We tried satellite sensing but the data is only available after two weeks. We are looking at options which can provide us with real-time information so that action can be taken," he said.
POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP060075)
Tuesday August 14, 2007
By A. LETCHUMANAN
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment has asked for a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on a petrochemical project at the Sungai Pulai estuary in Pontian, Johor.
National Resources and Environment deputy minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the request was made following reservations expressed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
"The MB has proposed a detailed EIA report in view of the sensitivity of the project and the huge mangrove swamp. He has valid concern," he told reporters after handing over the ISO 9001:2000 certification to Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) here today.
Sothinathan said the company undertaking the project had already submitted a comprehensive EIA report, which had been vetted and approved by the DOE last month.
"This is a new development and there has been a lot of public outcry," he said.
According to Sothinathan, after the detailed EIA report is completed, it would be displayed in public places so that the public, non-governmental organisations and government agencies could raise any issues, if there were any, within a stipulated grace period.
"If there are any objections, then there would be an inquiry before the EIA report is approved by the DOE," he said.
The company in question is involved in setting up a petroleum-bunkering hub on a reclaimed 40ha island in the vicinity of the Sungai Pulai estuary.
Commenting on illegal loggers in Sabah, Sothinathan described them as "bank robbers," saying these people conduct a survey of the forest area, target the suitable areas and within a short time, go in and collect as much wood as they can and disappear.
He said the illegal logging is taking place sporadically everywhere but has been controlled with the able vigilance of the forest rangers and tip-offs from the public.
"These illegal loggers are very well-organised. If they know they will get caught, they will run away. If they know they have the time, they will take whatever they want from the forest," he said.
Sothinathan was commenting on reports that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had busted a major illegal logging operation in the interior of Sabah, seizing 1,000 logs on 22 lorries yesterday.
He said it was difficult for the forest department, as it does not have the manpower to physically check the forests in the country.
"We tried satellite sensing but the data is only available after two weeks. We are looking at options which can provide us with real-time information so that action can be taken," he said.
POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP060075)
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