MELAKA: Due to catastrophic environmental damage to Sungai Tuang and the Pengkalan Balak beach here, 29 out of 36 conventional pig farms in the area were ordered shut by the state government, while the remaining seven have been placed under tight controls.
State agriculture and entrepreneur development committee chairman Datuk Hasan Rahman said the control measures, ordered by the government in May, have managed to reduce levels of pollution in the river.
"Only seven (pig farms) are allowed to remain in operation, as they currently adhere to requirements pertaining to the treatment of discharge they release into the river. Even they are now being closely monitored to ensure there are no further breaches of the regulations," said Hasan today.
In May, grave damage to Sungai Tuang and its estuaries, near the once-popular Pengkalan Balak beach, was exposed – and the 36 conventional pig farms which had grown to industrial levels of output were identified as the source of pollution.
Uncontrolled discharge from the farms, including faeces and carcasses, had caused severe damage to the river and Pengkalan Balak, resulting in businesses dependent on the tourist market there being brought to their knees.
"Controls are now very tight, as we are required to present weekly reports on the status of pollution there to the state executive committee," said Hasan.
"We have also instructed the Irrigation and Drainage Department to tightly monitor discharge from the seven farms that remain in operation. They have to adhere to orders that only treated refuse can be discharged into the river.
"Should there be breaches of controls, the drainage outlets from these farms can be immediately shut," he added.
On the Tanjung Beruas Port, where uncontrolled coal deposits were found to have caused air pollution affecting residential areas in the vicinity, Hasan said the matter is also being brought under control.
"The operators had cooperated with the state government and swiftly reduced the coal deposits there within the 30-day time frame given. But they are still being monitored to ensure that (the incident does not recur).
"Should there be a repeat of such offences, the state government will not hesitate to shut down their operations,” he added.