THE suspected pollution in Sungai Kulim and Sungai Air Merah, Kedah, has been traced to waste discharge from a duck farm in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam, according to Penang Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol.
He clarified that pig farming activities were not responsible for the pollution, assuring that it does not affect the water supply in both states.
“The site of the waste discharge from the duck farm is far from the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) water treatment plant. It is about 14km away from the plant.
“After visiting both the pig and duck farms today, we found out it was the duck farm that was responsible for the waste discharge,” he told reporters after conducting checks at the farms today.
It was reported that the Department of Environment (DOE) in Kedah had earlier suspected that the waste discharge came from the pig farm in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.
Fahmi told the media that the owner of the duck farm has been told to obtain a licence under the Penang Poultry Farming Enactment 2020.
“The farm has been operating for the past 15 years and we hope they will comply with the regulations,” he said.
Under the enactment, those responsible may face a fine not exceeding RM30,0000 or a jail term of no more than three years or both.
State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the duck farm houses about 100,000 ducks.
“Our investigations showed that the duck farm has channelled the wastewater into the river, causing pollution,” she said.
She said the department would instruct the farm to comply with instructions, including obtaining a licence from the department by next month.
Story by Edmund Lee
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THE suspected pollution in Sungai Kulim and Sungai Air Merah, Kedah, has been traced to waste discharge from a duck farm in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam, according to Penang Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol.
He clarified that pig farming activities were not responsible for the pollution, assuring that it does not affect the water supply in both states.
“The site of the waste discharge from the duck farm is far from the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) water treatment plant. It is about 14km away from the plant.
“After visiting both the pig and duck farms today, we found out it was the duck farm that was responsible for the waste discharge,” he told reporters after conducting checks at the farms today.
It was reported that the Department of Environment (DOE) in Kedah had earlier suspected that the waste discharge came from the pig farm in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.
Fahmi told the media that the owner of the duck farm has been told to obtain a licence under the Penang Poultry Farming Enactment 2020.
“The farm has been operating for the past 15 years and we hope they will comply with the regulations,” he said.
Under the enactment, those responsible may face a fine not exceeding RM30,0000 or a jail term of no more than three years or both.
State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the duck farm houses about 100,000 ducks.
“Our investigations showed that the duck farm has channelled the wastewater into the river, causing pollution,” she said.
She said the department would instruct the farm to comply with instructions, including obtaining a licence from the department by next month.
Story by Edmund Lee