Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (PIFWA) are requesting the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and related agencies to monitor and address the water pollution problems in DID’s drainage systems that are becoming more noticeable day by day.
The drains that are found polluted includes Parit D3 (Parit Paya Mahang B), Parit A3/PT.SIAM A3, Parit E2 (Parit Kg.Baru B) and few other drains around the area of Seberang Perai Selatan. These drains can be clearly seen from the main road and the North-South Expressway, from the Batu Kawan toll exit. Other than that, these drains can also be seen by accessing the following roads: Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan, Bukit Tambun, Simpang Ampat (SPS District) as well as Mukim 12 Jalan Kebun Baru and Jalan Ban Sungai Sembilang, Juru (Seberang Perai Tengah District).
From the survey done, it was observed that the water in the drains were dark in color, foamy and foul-smelling. It is very likely that the water pollution that occurred is due to the release of animal feces and aquaculture waste as well as waste released from the business and industrial premises around the area.
Throughout the survey, it was also found that the polluted water from the drains flow directly to Sungai Jawi, which is next to Batu Kawan and ends up in the sea. This situation is worsened by wild plant growth in Sungai Jawi, causing the river to be narrower and shallower.
SAM has received a number of complaints from the locals and fisher communities as they are very concerned and worried about the condition of Sungai Jawi which is clearly polluted and becoming shallower. According to locals, sedimentation of the river arises from earthworks carried out for development projects including by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).
We were told that complaints were submitted to the respective agencies through various channels to address these issues. However, no immediate actions were taken, leaving the locals in worry as these problems remain the same.
Therefore, SAM and PIFWA urge the relevant agencies to take up these pollution problem seriously. We believe that this arising problem threatens the balance of the ecosystem and the aquatic life and will lead to destruction if this matter remains unsolved.
Take action before the environment is destroyed.
S.M.MOHAMED IDRIS
President
