Lo (second right) talks about the illegal dumping to Trienekens CEO Ting Ching Zung (second left) while Sarius Lee (right) and Segar Kallang listen.
KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has identified at least 20 sites within its area of jurisdiction where illegal dumping is being carried out.
These illegal dumping sites are found at various locations like Desa Wira, RPR Batu Kawa, Stakan, Padawan, Jalan Stephen Yong, Jalan Matang, Taman Malihah, Jalan Matang-Batu Kawa and Moyan.
MPP Chairman Lo Khere Chiang disclosed this to reporters at after inspecting an illegal dumping site together with Trienekens Chief Executive Officer Ting Ching Zung at Sungai Tapang here yesterday.
“The problem of illegal dumping has been there for a long time, since the days of KRDC (Kuching Rural District Council).
But the problem is very rampant today and is getting from bad to worse,” lamented Lo.
To solve the problem of illegal dumping, he said the cooperation of the public is very important.
He appealed to the public not to throw their wastes at illegal dumping sites as it not only tarnish the landscape but poses potential health risks and creating breeding ground for mosquitoes, rodents and other types of vermin.
“To tackle this problem, we need to get the public on our side,” he stressed, adding that MPP will be compiling pictures of all the illegal dumping sites within its jurisdiction.
He pointed out that an illegal dumping site on state land behind the TUDM base in Sungai Tapang here will be cleared and a barricade put up to prevent people from continuing to make the place a dumping ground.
Lo said MPP is working together with Trienekens to clear the illegal dumping site at Sungai Tapang, which might take a couple of days.
“Clearing an illegal dumping site costs the council a lot of money. It can run up to between RM8,000 to RM10,000 a day to clear an illegal dumping site.
We need to bring in the machinery, backhoes, lorries, labour and so on,” he said. According to Lo, MPP spends about RM60,000 every two to three years to clear the illegal dumping site at Desa Wira.
He conceded it is very difficult to catch people doing illegal dumping red-handed.
However, he said, there were odd cases being caught and fined over the years. Meanwhile, Ting said Trienekens is working together with the council to solve the problem of illegal dumping.
He said anyone who wants to dispose of their wastes can always call Trienekens to provide dumpsters, bins and trucks to collect them, and the fee is only RM220 per lorry.
Illegal dumping is an offence under the Natural Resources Environment Board Ordinance and punishable by law.
Anyone found guilty of illegal waste dumping could be charged with the maximum penalty of RM20,000 under Section 30(1) (a & b).
To highlight any illegal dumping in their area, residents are advised to call MPP at (082) 615-566 or Trienekens at (082) 612-300.
27-Feb-2013
New Sarawak Tribune.