PUTRAJAYA, Feb 5 — A Johor-based poultry farm which also produces fertilisers using chicken manure and was identified as being the source of ammonia pollution in Sungai Sayong, will face stern action if it fails to buck up.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said stern action, including factory closure, would be taken if the owner failed to address the pollution within the six-month grace period given by the ministry, beginning this month.

"The ministry views this seriously because the waste from the factory has been the source of pollution to four water treatment plants in Johor, with one providing water to Singapore and three others providing water to more than 60,000 consumer accounts in the state in October last year.

"During my visit to the plant at the end of last month, I warned the factory owner to take immediate steps by improving the chicken waste treatment system if they wanted the factory to continue operating,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting between him and state executive councillors in charge of environment from their respective states here today.

Meanwhile, commenting on the meeting today, Wan Junaidi said the ministry was considering using constructed wetland approach as a long-term alternative to address water pollution.

He said the natural water treatment would be more effective in treating industrial waste from mining, food, metal manufacturing and domestic sewage through the use of biotechnology engineering.

Wan Junaidi said the meeting also recommended that the state government gazette firefly areas which served as ecotourism attractions.

He said the move was aimed at maintaining the sustainability of firefly populations, as well as meeting the need for conservation of biodiversity in their natural habitat. — Bernama