Full analysis of Sungai Perak water samples after bluish discolouration is expected within two weeks, says Perak JMG director.
IPOH: The full laboratory analysis results for water samples related to the flow of the Perak River at Kampung Bukit Amarikan near Gerik, which allegedly turned bluish again, are expected to be obtained within the next two weeks.
Perak Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG) Director Nizarulikram Abdul Rahim said that the water samples were taken last Saturday (July 11) in the affected areas, including at Dataran Loma, Sungai Rui, before being sent to the JMG laboratory for the full analysis process.
“The laboratory does not only process our samples (Perak River water) but various other samples as well. So, I can say that the full analysis results are expected in two weeks,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He said that although a comprehensive analysis is still being conducted, initial field investigations show that the physical change in the river water’s colour is not linked to any mining activities in the Hulu Perak area.
“The recent incident where the river turned blue was not caused by mining activities. This is because when we visited the site, we found there was no water overflow from the three mines that were previously ordered to suspend operations last year,” he said.
Nizarulikram said all the mining companies involved were ordered to carry out remediation works and transition to an off-river treatment system when their operations were temporarily suspended previously.
Meanwhile, he did not rule out the possibility that the change in the river water’s colour could be influenced by natural erosion factors due to heavy rain in land clearing or logging areas outside the mining lease in Hulu Perak.
He added that activities to clear old sediment in the river area, located about 800 meters from the tin mining area, might also contribute to the change in the water’s colour.
“Usually, erosion occurs in areas outside the mining lease, such as several land clearings in Hulu Perak, logging areas, and also an area outside the mine where there is old sediment from past mining activities.
“Currently, there is an activity there where they (the relevant parties) want to remove the old sediment. Those works are underway, and perhaps that sediment is being disturbed, and coupled with heavy rain, the rain carries all that sediment into the river.”
However, Nizarulikram said that when the water samples were taken from the location, the water appeared clear.
“When we took the water, there was no blue colour; it was just clear, white like tap water. But because the sunlight reflects off certain metals in the river, it appears blue or green to our eyes,” he said.
On July 11, the media reported that the flow of the Perak River at Kampung Bukit Amarikan, near Kampung Kaki Bukit, Gerik, allegedly turned bluish again, raising suspicions of recurring pollution.
A day later, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad reportedly stated that the state government was still waiting for reports from the relevant departments before deciding on any action following the incident. This comes after a similar incident was reported in October last year.
On November 19 last year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), through JMG, issued temporary suspension orders to three mining companies that failed to comply with the Mining Scheme Operation Approval Letter (SKSPM).
NRES, in a statement, explained that the suspension order was issued following inspections and water quality sampling by JMG at several mining areas in Hulu Perak, following complaints of pollution in Sungai Rui, Sungai Kijang, Sungai Kepayang, and Sungai Perak at the end of October last year.
However, the three mining companies, whose operations were previously suspended temporarily following the phenomenon of the Perak River turning blue, were allowed to resume operations on January 13 based on a full investigation conducted by the authorities on all three companies.
