Tuesday 10 November 2009

Firm Action Awaits Sungai Segaliud Polluters



November 10, 2009 19:28 PM

Firm Action Awaits Sungai Segaliud Polluters

SANDAKAN, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry will take action against three palm oil factories in the district which are found to have polluted the Sungai Segaliud.

Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that although the palm oil industry was important to the state, palm oil companies should give priority to the effort to conserve the environment and not just to rake in profit.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Segaliud water treatment plant here, he said samples taken from the river last month showed that the water was polluted by waste discharged by palm oil factories nearby.

He said that one of the factories was found to be negligent for leaving the holding pond for palm oil effluent unattended, causing the content to spill into the river during rain and flood.

On the Sungai Segaliud water quality, Masidi said it was still safe for consumption.

-- BERNAMA

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