JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 5 — A burst pond at a sand mine in Kota Tinggi caused severe pollution in the Johor River last week, disrupting water supply to 1.8 million households and prompting a total of seven police reports to be lodged, police confirmed today.
State officials previously revealed the river’s turbidity level surged to 37,400 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), nearly 100 times the normal level of 400 NTU.
In response, the state government released additional water from the Linggiu Dam to dilute the sediment.
Today, Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said four new reports were received over the weekend, including one from the mine’s owner and three from villagers.
“Three previous reports were made by the state water operator, Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd and two affected villagers,” he told reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here today.
However, Ab Rahaman clarified that the police will not be leading the investigation into the pollution itself.
He said the Department of Environment (DoE) and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) are handling the probe under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, while police will monitor the situation.
He also confirmed that the mining company involved was operating legally with a permit from the Kota Tinggi Land and Mines Office.
