Suspected river polluters in Tawau identified
TAWAU: More stringent enforcement should be carried out to prevent the recurrence of water pollution that has disrupted the operation of the water treatment plant here.
Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin said the water supply disruption has caused great inconvenience to many consumers here.
Chan, who is also the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah secretary, made the remarks after witnessing the joint operation led by the Department of Environment (DOE) and supported by Water Department, police and Tawau Municipal Council, which has identified the suspect behind the discharge of used lubricants into the drain and subsequently into the Tawau River.
The suspect, a middle-aged man, has been using his house at Taman Kuhara Jaya, located near the Tawau River and upstream from Utara Water Plant, as his own private workshop for years.
DOE officers conducted the investigation after numerous complaints by the public against the frequent water supply disruptions following the North Water Treatment Plant closure due to oil contamination of its water source.
“I should give DOE a big pat on the back after they had identified a few suspects not only at Taman Kuhara Jaya, but also at Taman King Fook and Amber Park, who had discharged used lubricants, diesel or oil direct into drains and eventually flowing into the Tawau River,” Chan said.
Chan pointed out that there were laws related to water resource protection, especially the Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998, Water Supply Enactment 2003 and others.
“In the case of water resources, the federal government is responsible for federal works and power, including water supply, interstate rivers and canals. The state government is responsible for control over state rivers, riverine fisheries and water supplies and control in the case of any water related matter under agreement among the states and control of silt and riparian rights. Drainage and irrigation issues are within the concurrent list. We have all sorts of laws but what we need now is enforcement and implementation,” he said.
The recurrence of forced shut-downs at the North Water Treatment Plant indicated that the Tawau River is vulnerable to contamination. Too many houses, agricultural, commercial and industrial activities are carried out day by day, while the Tawau River flows through a densely populated town.
Chan is of the opinion that, “the long term solution is to construct a water dam at Cinta Mata, extending the Cinta Mata plant, while closing down the North plant.”
He also called for the Water Resources Council to come up with a master-plan for the protection of water resources for Tawau district, as various kinds of water issues had been encountered over the years, and this year, from low water level caused by draught, logging activities in water catchment areas, to water source pollution.
“This is about public interest, not for partisan interest. I demand the BN government to listen to the people,” he said.