HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN New Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
PUTRAJAYA: Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has given a poultry farm in Johor - found to be the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong - six-months from Jan 29, to sort out its operations.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he had warned the owner that the farm could face closure if nothing was done to address the pollution issue.
"I have visited the farm myself and was informed by the farm owner that he will adopt a new manure- drying technology from Taiwan.
"This technology will enable fast drying of the manure regardless of the weather," he told reporters after chairing the Environmental Minister with State Exco Members Meeting on Environment (MEXCOE) 2018 today.
He said he had also directed the ministry's director-general to oversea the farm operation until it has stopped polluting the river in Johor.
It was reported that the pollution had affected some 600,000 people in the area since last October, where the supply of drinking water was disrupted, Wan Junaidi said.
The Johor state government had also ordered temporary shut down of the farm operation, following a recommendation made during a meeting chaired by the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) last year.
It was reported that the farm, located at the border of Kulai and Kluang, had also polluted the Sungai Johor.
At the meeting today, Wan Junaidi said a working paper was presented on an alternative to control the river pollution through a "Constructed Wetland" technology by Department of Environment (DoE).
"The department has suggested through its paper that this alternative approach of treating industrial wastewater and sewage treatment could prevent river water from being contaminated.
"This method, where special plants will be planted around the river areas to absorb the toxic in the water, will replicate the natural process of living without the need for any chemical to clean the river," he added.
Five other papers were presented today; among them are National Environment Day celebration, fireflies conservation efforts by Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and REDD+ (efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and foster conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) Financial Mechanisms.
Johor poultry farm linked to ammonia pollution given 6 months to 'buck up'
Straits Times 5 Feb 18;
PUTRAJAYA (BERNAMA) - A Johor-based poultry farm which also produces fertilisers using chicken manure and identified as being the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong, will face stern action if it failed to buck up, a Malaysian minister said.
Waste from the factory has been the source of pollution at 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.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said stern action, including factory closure, would be taken if the owner failed to address the pollution within the six-month grace period given by the ministry, beginning this month (Feb).
"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," he told reporters in Putrajaya after chairing a meeting between him and state executive councillors in charge of environment on Monday (Feb 5).
Wan Junaidi said the ministry was considering using constructed wetland approach as a long-term alternative to address water pollution.
He said the 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 that the state government gazette firefly areas which served as ecotourism attractions.
He said the move was aimed at maintaining the sustainability of firefly populations, as well as meeting the need for conservation of biodiversity in their natural habitat.
