Pollution Killed Straits Fish: Study
By Harpajan Singh
JOHOR BARU, Tues. — Pollutants carried by the Sungai Segget and Sungai Skudai killed thousands of fish in the Johor Straits in October last year, investigations by the state government show.
A state government spokesman said a study showed that the "heavily polluted" waters from the two rivers had contaminated the western part of the straits, a popular fish-breeding ground.
"It is impossible to estimate the actual damage but there is no doubt that the quantity of fish killed was in the thousands," he added.
The spokesman said the pollution had caused a condition known as "plankton collapse," which had reduced considerably the oxygen content in the water.
"We found that the main cause of the fish deaths was lack of oxygen in the straits," he said.
The spokesman said the matter had been brought to the attention of Mentri Besar Tan Sri Haji Muhyiddin Yassin who had directed immediate efforts to check the situation.
He said several measures had been taken and the situation in the straits had improved over the last few months.
The spokesman said it was very likely that the situation could recur in the near future and for a permanent approach, the study had recommended that both rivers be cleaned up.
"Tan Sri Muhyiddin also directed both short- and long-term measures be drawn up to prevent a recurrence of the problem. Several relevant departments are looking into the matter.
"He also called for more control to reduce pollution in the two rivers and the authorities have stepped up checks on indiscriminate waste disposal into the rivers," he added.
Compensation for 56 padi farmers
ALOR STAR, Tues. —A group of padi farmers affected by the multi-million dollar Gunung Raya hill resort project in Pulau Langkawi has been given compensation totaling $135,000.
The Star learnt that the money was paid by the contractor, Nam Fatt-Muhibbah Joint Venture Sdn Bhd, to 56 farmers who made claims for damages suffered due to siltation and pollution of the irrigation canals.
It is learnt that the farmers received between $600 and $8,000 each, worked out on the basis of 15 sacks of padi per affected acre at $60 per sack.
The Petaling Jaya based contractor also assured the Kedah Forestry Department in a letter that remedial steps were being carried out to resolve the farmers’ hardship.
The four steps taken are the planting of acacia mangium trees and special grass at the affected hill slopes, placing granite stones to act as "sand traps" to prevent erosion and reduce siltation, constructing drainage outlets and the clearing of earth brought down by landslides.
An official of the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), which mediated in the dispute, confirmed that compensation had been paid.
However, it is learnt that many other affected farmers were not compensated as they had failed to register their claims with Lada.
In December, The Star reported the problems faced by the 400 farmers living at the foothill.
The farmers had claimed that the clearing of the hill to build a road to the peak had resulted in pollution and siltation of the rivers which irrigate their farmlands.
Prime Minister Datuk Sen Dr Mahathir Mohamad directed Lada to look into the question of compensating the farmers after he heard of the effects.
Residents allege fouling of morning air
IPOH, Tues. — At least three factories near Pengkalan Pegoh here are releasing smoke early in the morning to avoid detection, State Assemblyman for Lahat, Encik Mohamed Fadzlan Yahaya, said today.
He added that the smoke was affecting the health of about 20,000 residents in Taman Pegoh, Pengkalan Get, Pengkalan Tin, Taman Badri Shah, Bukit Merah, Cangkat Larang, Kg Sen Rahmat, and Desa Pakatan.
Encik Fadzlan said the residents had told him that Malaysian Titanium Bhd and Asian Rare Earth in Jalan Lahat and the Rock Chemicals Industry in Jalan Pengkalan often released smoke at about 8pm and between 3am and 5am.
"The residents complain they have breathing difficulty early in the morning," he said.
"They also complain that the zinc roofs of their houses have become rusty and corroded. Even their fruit trees are not fruiting," he said.
However, Encik Fadzlan said the residents were not prepared to lodge any official complaint because many of their relatives were working in these factories.
He said he had written to the Kinta district office in November last year, but had received no reply.
Encik Fadzlan said he would continue to appeal to the residents to form a committee to raise the issue with the authorities.
Source : The Star, April 3, 1991
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