Selangor river should be a protected zone

The pollution and subsequent disruption in the water supply have caused the maximum hardship to millions of consumers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Police reports were lodged by the National Water Services Commission (Span) to investigate whether sabotage or negligence was the reason for the pollution. It is time the Selangor state government to declare the Selangor River a protected zone to enable strict supervision of the river.

The state government should operate a river patrol using motorboats to check on the situation daily

This will enable the authorities to be alerted in advance of any possible pollution – oil, chemicals, animal carcasses et cetera.

The river needs to be kept clean, and the district and municipal authorities should make regular monitoring of the industries and residential areas along the river and tributaries.

When pollution occurs in any section of the river before the intake/pumping stations, a greater amount of water should be released from the Selangor River dam in Kuala Kubu Bharu to flush out the pollutants and not rely on the normal flow of the river to clear the pollution, which may take a longer time.

Another suggestion is to excavate a large pond (about 20 hectares and 20 feet deep) along the river near the pumping station/treatment plant to channel and store water from the overflowing river whenever it rains. This large body of water can be used to supplement supply and also be utilised during an emergency. This will also reduce the amount of water that needs to be released into the river daily.

The Selangor River is the real river of life for the millions of people who are dependent on it and should be given its due importance.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.