GEORGE TOWN, Feb 24 — Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and the Department of Environment (DoE) must explain how the bacterial pollution contaminated the Batu Ferringhi river, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Saying the level of contamination could only be caused by an “institutional source”, Lim insisted that both parties answer for the controversial pollution of the river at the popular seaside stretch for the sake of accountability and transparency.
“They need to come clean and also to list out preventive measures that will be implemented to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said in a statement issued today.
Lim said IWK and DoE could not shirk the reply, after the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) released a report that clearly showed that the water treatment plant in Batu Ferringhi was not cause the pollution.
Earlier this month, the appearance of blackish water in the sea and river at Batu Ferringhi had led to public outcry.
Tests by DoE showed the contaminated water contained the bacterium e.coli. The pollution was cleared up shortly after media reports on the contamination began surfacing.
Although acknowledging its discharge of treated effluents into the river, IWK insisted it was not the source of the e.coli in the water.
Despite its denial, the state government was adamant that IWK had caused the pollution.
Today, Lim added that PBAPP’s water treatment plant has a zero-discharge policy that bars the plant from releasing contaminants into the environment, which eliminated it as a possible source of the pollution in the river.
“So those charged with taking care of the environment like DoE and IWK must fulfil their responsibilities,” he said.
