A stone quarry in Kampung Padang, Mukim Sungai Kechil, has been ordered to suspend operations by the Kedah Department of Environment (JAS) following complaints over murky river water pollution in the area.
Kedah JAS director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said investigations found the complaint to be valid, with the pollution believed to have been caused by improper management of surface runoff control measures at the quarry site.
She said the investigation discovered that water from the quarry was not being properly channelled into drains and sedimentation ponds as required, but instead flowed directly into a nearby river.
The department also found that wastewater from the cleaning of truck tyres at the site had contributed to the river becoming cloudy.
“An on-site directive has been issued after the quarry operation was found to have breached several conditions under the approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report,” she said in a statement.
Sharifah Zakiah said further action would follow through the issuance of enforcement notices under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974.
She warned that failure to comply with the notices within the stipulated period could result in further action against the project operator.
Under Section 34A(7) of the EQA 1974, offenders may face fines ranging from RM100,000 to RM1 million, as well as a mandatory prison sentence of up to five years.
The authorities stressed that environmental compliance remains a priority to prevent further pollution risks and protect surrounding communities.
