MELAKA: The Melaka state government has outlined four conditions - to be met within five days - on the operator of a coal transporting company at the Tanjung Beruas Port following complaints of air pollution that has affected 23 homes in the area.
State Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade executive committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said, should the conditions fail to be met, the company faces the prospect of coal imports being stopped.
The order was issued to Kumpulan Melaka Bhd (KMB) Seaport Sdn Bhd, the company managing the operations, in a meeting during Lim's site visit.
The first condition is for coal stocks stored at the port to not exceed the allowed limit of 4,000 tonnes at any given time and to not exceed four metres in height.
This is to avoid coal particles from polluting the air.
"They have to also ensure that the current storage of 6,000 tonnes and six metres in height is reduced to below the permitted amounts within the next five days. They also have to send a weekly report for me to brief the state executive committee meeting," said Lim.
"If all these conditions are not met and the operations still cause pollution, the state government will not hesitate to take severe action, including stopping the import of coal via the port."
Over 500 residents in the area were reported to have been affected by the pollution over the past four months, with black dust visible simply through the swipe of hands on the walls of homes in the vicinity.