PRAI: A food-based factory here was slapped with an RM18,000 compound after it was found illegally discharging effluents into Sungai Prai, resulting in white foam formations in the river, recently.
State Department of Environment (DoE) director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the compound was issued under the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulations 2009.
The state DoE has launched a probe after receiving complaints of water pollution and dead fish floating in Sungai Prai, last week, believed to have been caused by a food-based factory in the Prai area.
"Further investigations found that the factory had illegally discharged effluents into Sungai Prai. We have issued a directive to the said factory to stop discharging effluents into Sungai Prai with immediate effect.
"We have also issued a notice under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against the factory for control measures to prevent its untreated effluents from being discharged into Sungai Prai before it can resume operations.
"We will also increase patrols and monitoring in the vicinity of Sungai Prai," she said today.
On the dead fish, Sharifah Zakiah said it was still too premature to conclude that it was due to the illegally discharged effluents.
"We will need to wait for results of the water and dead fish samples, which have been sent for testing," she added.
Sharifah Zakiah expressed her appreciation to the public who had come forward to report the incident.
Any complaints of pollution can be made to the DoE's toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727 or via e-mail to aduan_k@doe.gov.my or through the DoE e-complaint portal at https://eaduan.doe.gov.my.
Last Tuesday, the New Straits Times reported an incident where thousands of dead fish were spotted floating in Sungai Prai here after high tide.
Residents of nearby Taman Kimsar saw the strange event, before alerting Seberang Prai City Council councillor David Marshel.
The councillor, who went to the location with Deputy Chief Minister II Professor Dr P. Ramasamy, said the stench from the dead fish was unbearable.
Following that, the DoE launched a probe into the matter.