Acidity tests to be conducted on soil, water
KUALA LANGAT: Selangor has ordered the state Department of Environment (DoE) and the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) to conduct acidity tests on the soil and underground water surrounding Kampung Jenjarom following what appears to be illegal discharge of chemical by a battery manufacturing factory here.
The tests are to determine the level of acid illegally released by the factory, which started operating in 2014 and was alleged to have no proper disposal method at its premises in Jalan Sukepi in Jenjarom Industrial Area.
Apart from that, the factory is alleged to have violated the laws as its business operating licence allowed it to fill only acid into batteries.
However, it was found to have illegally conducted plumbum melting activities, which causes air pollution through the discharge of lead fumes and dust, as well as recycling of batteries, which breaches the condition of operating in a medium industrial zone.
The situation was compounded after its plumbum melting equipment was destroyed in a fire in December 2017.
On Jan 30, the Kuala Langat District Council and the DoE sealed the factory and equipment. Its business operating licence was subsequently cancelled on March 15.
Selangor Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the tests would take two weeks.
“The acid reading at this surrounding area may be high and it could have happened either because of the illegal discharge by the factory or due to the cracks on the plumbum melting equipment during the fire.
“We believe acid has seeped into the soil and into the underground water, which caused the surrounding streams to be acidic. So we need to investigate this.”
Hee said this yesterday after a meeting with the factory representatives and a visit to the premises, which has been sealed.
Present was Selangor DoE director Shafe’ee Yasin.
Hee said the Selangor government would take action against the factory if it was found to have polluted the environment.
The acidity results from DoE and Luas were important, Hee added, as it would determine the state government’s next course of action.
Hee said the factory adhered to the stipulated regulations until the fire incident in December 2017.
“Prior to that, only acid-filling activities were carried out. After the fire and upgrading works on the premises, they included plumbum melting as part of its operations as well as battery recycling, and we do not allow that.”
He said the factory would have to move out of the industrial area if it continued to disregard the regulations.
“The land office has been notified and I have asked the DoE to monitor the situation. On whether the business operating licence will be given back to the factory, it depends on the DoE’s recommendation,” said Hee.
Shafe’ee said the soil and underground water samples had been taken and would be sent to the Department of Chemistry to be tested.
“Activities relating to the melting of plumbum need to be part of the Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA). If there is no EIA report, we will take action against the factory under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and if found guilty, offenders are punishable to a fine of RM500,000 or a five-year jail term, or both.”
Shafe’ee said the investigation paper would be submitted to the Selangor deputy public prosecutor for further action.