TAIPING: About 500 residents in the Taman Tekkah Permai and Taman Tekkah Jaya areas here have been affected by black dust, believed to have been caused by industrial operations over the past week.
Perak Department of Environment (DOE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said they received complaints about black dust pollution from residents in the area on Aug 4.
He said the DOE had conducted air monitoring using the Air Quality Monitoring Device (GRIMM) and Portable Multigas Analyser (CEREX) at two locations in the area from Aug 6 until today.
“Observations at the monitoring sites found no smell, smoke, dust, or open burning during the period.
“The analysis of air monitoring data collected from August 6 to 11 found only two dominant gas readings recorded, namely acetylene and hydrogen cyanide,” he said at a press conference held at the Aulong Assemblyman Service Centre here today.
Mohammad Ezanni said the department had also conducted monitoring using drones in areas within a five-kilometre radius of the location that had the potential to cause pollution.
“The DOE is also conducting enforcement operations on a factory suspected of causing black dust pollution in the Kamunting Industrial Area and is still awaiting the results of the chemical analysis report from the Chemistry Department, which are expected soon,” he said.
Mohammad Ezanni said strict enforcement action would be taken against any premises found to be in breach of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Amendment) 2024 for causing black dust pollution.
Meanwhile, Kampung Assam Kumbang village head Sharudin Ahmad Sani said residents had to close their windows during windy conditions, as large amounts of black dust would enter their homes.
“Excessive black dust causes a foul smell but disappears when it rains,” he said.
–Bernama
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