PUTRAJAYA, 6 Feb 2018:
A Johor-based poultry farm – which also produces fertilisers using chicken manure – identified as being the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong will face stern action if its management fails to buck up.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday said stern action, including factory closure, would be taken if the owner fails to address the pollution within the six-month grace period given by the ministry, beginning this month.
“The ministry views this seriously because the waste from the factory has been the source of pollution to four water treatment plants in Johor, with one providing water to Singapore and three others providing water to more than 60,000 consumer accounts in the state in October last year.
“During my visit to the plant at the end of last month, I warned the factory owner to take immediate steps by improving the chicken waste treatment system if they wanted the factory to continue operating.”
After chairing a meeting with state executive councillors in charge of environment from their respective states, Wan Junaidi said the ministry is considering using constructed the wetland approach as a long-term alternative to address water pollution.
He said natural water treatment would be more effective in treating industrial waste from mining, food, metal manufacturing and domestic sewage through the use of biotechnology engineering.
Wan Junaidi said the meeting also recommended state governments gazette firefly areas which served as ecotourism attractions.
He said the move is aimed at maintaining the sustainability of firefly populations, as well as meeting the need for conservation of biodiversity in their natural habitat.
– Bernama