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PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Perak’s DoE, DVS probe claims of Sungai Bidor pollution
- Admin UKK
- Berita
PETALING JAYA: The veterinary services department (DVS) and the environment department (DoE) in Perak have launched a probe into allegations of pollution affecting Sungai Bidor.
The pollution was claimed to be due to pig and duck farming activities near Jalan Bruseh near Bidor, Sinar Harian reported.
State executive councillor A Sivanesan said both departments had visited the farms in question to assess the situation.
The human resources, health, Indian community affairs and national integration committee chairman said the departments also took water samples for analysis, including for testing the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
“Samples were taken from both the pig and duck farms. Investigations found that the pig farm complies with the required regulations. Effluent samples from the final discharge point and the drainage channel leading to the river have also been sent for lab analysis.
“As for the duck farm, investigations revealed it does not use a pond system for rearing ducks, and therefore no wastewater is being discharged from the site,” he told a press conference at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan today.
Also present at the press conference was state science, environment, and green technology committee chairman Teh Kok Lim.
Sivanesan said the results and full analysis are expected next week and will be assessed in accordance with the state’s Pig Farming Control Enactment 1992.
“Based on sampling records from last year and January this year, the BOD readings from the pig farm complied with the minimum discharge limit of less than 50 parts per million.
“All pig farms in Perak are currently implementing the modern pig farming system, which practises zero discharge. DVS conducts biannual sampling to ensure compliance.”
He also noted that the DoE, through its environmental quality monitoring programme, found that water quality at three manual monitoring stations along Sungai Bidor fell within Class I and II – indicating clean water categories.
“The most recent test conducted in February showed that Sungai Bidor remained at the Class II level. The department will continue monitoring and conducting in-situ testing to determine the river’s water quality index,” he added.
The issue of pig farms has become a central point for Perikatan Nasional in its campaign for the Ayer Kuning state seat by-election in Perak, with concerns raised over their presence in a predominantly Malay area.
Malaysiakini yesterday reported PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad as claiming to have evidence proving that Sungai Bidor had suffered pollution due to a nearby pig farm. He said water samples from the river had been sent to a private lab for testing.
Sivanesan previously dismissed PAS’s allegations of widespread illegal pig farming in the state, stating that all 85 farms were licensed by DVS.