JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor State Government has allocated 2 million ringgit to improve water quality and restore Sungai Buluh and Sungai Tukang Batu.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said his party is targeting the two rivers to be removed from the polluted category within two years.
He said the improvements include riverbed excavation works and construction of effective microorganisms auto-dosing stations.
The project also involves the supply of EM for water quality improvement treatment and the Low Carbon City Frameworks initiative with industry.
According to him, the project started in September and is expected to be completed this December with implementation status reaching 70% so far.
Ling stated these two rivers will be the beginning of efforts to improve water quality if the project is successful.
He said the state government will try to bring this initiative to other rivers after evaluating this project’s success.
Also present at the event were state DOE director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff and MBPG mayor Datin Paduka Hazlina Jalil.
Apart from river restoration, Ling said the carbon emission rate by industry was also monitored by MBPG through electricity and wastewater use assessment.
Real-time water and air quality monitoring will be implemented to monitor river water and air quality within the administrative area.
Several strategic locations including pollution complaint areas and high-risk pollution hotspots have been identified for monitoring.
He said the DOE would ensure monitoring and enforcement were carried out at the involved locations.
The department will also ensure industrial wastewater discharges into the drainage system follow set conditions.
Therefore, he stressed that the state government was always committed to restoring water quality in all nine polluted rivers in the district.
Ling called on all parties to cooperate in preserving and conserving the environment for future generations. – Bernama
