KUALA LUMPUR: More needs to be done in dealing with the bauxite pollution in Pahang as action taken has been slow, say environmentalists.
Water and Energy Research Malaysia Association president S. Piarapakaran said the measures that the Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd would take, such as installing a filtering device in the drainage system at the port, would be ineffective.
He said the surroundings of the mining sites’ were like a sponge. So, instead of firefighting at hand, groundwater mapping should be done to take water samples at different depths.
“This is to gauge how the contamination moves through the underground water in the cracks and spaces between the soil, sand and rock.
“Through groundwater mapping, the current baseline can be set and from there, effective mitigation measures can be planned and carried out,” he said.
The costs that would be incurred in mitigation work, he said, could be recovered from the wrong-doers by the Department of Environment (DoE).
“Once they (the culprits) are identified, the DoE director-general may freeze their assets and accounts,” he said, adding that the negative impact from the contamination should not be discounted as the effect, whether short- or long-term, should be taken seriously.
Former Malaysian Nature Society president Professor Dr Maketab Mohamed said the state government should not be held hostage by the few elites who were exploiting natural resources for their own interests while ignoring the welfare of the people.
He said political affiliations must be ignored and suggested the setting up of a special committee chaired by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
“Federal agencies, such as the DoE and Health Department, state agencies, as well as members of parliament of areas affected by the bauxite mining should be in the committee.
“It should call all the stakeholders, such as the miners, transport companies, the landowners and the Village Security and Development committee in Bukit Goh, Sungai Lembing and other affected areas.
“The Kuantan Port management must also be called to explain their modus operandi in loading and cleaning the port,” he said.
The bauxite pollution, Maketab said, was mainly a non-point source pollution which meant the possibility of controlling the pollution by treatment or filtration was almost nil.
“How can you control pollution that will enter a waterway at any place and at any time when it rains?” he asked, adding that best management practices must be done from the mining site and along the transportation routes to Kuantan Port, the management of the stockpiling sites as well as port cleaning.