All pig farms in Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor, have started sending their livestock waste to a biogas plant in Ampang Jajar from May 4 as part of efforts to tackle pollution in the surrounding area.
Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the move was aimed at preventing animal waste from being discharged into the environment, particularly through drainage systems flowing into Sungai Kereh.
He said the Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) was also pouring Useful Microbes Activated Solution (UMAS) into public drains in Kampung Selamat every week to help control pollution and reduce unpleasant odours.
Mooi Lye, who is Jawi assemblyman, was responding to a question from Bukhori Ghazali (PN-Pinang Tunggal) on measures taken to address the foul smell from Sungai Kereh during the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
He added that JPVPP would step up enforcement against pig farmers found breaching the regulations.
Under Regulation 25(2) of the Pig Farming Licensing Regulations (Penang) 2020, licensed operators must ensure ammonia gas concentrations inside enclosed pig farms remain below 20 parts per million (ppm), while hydrogen sulphide levels must be kept below five ppm.
However, Mooi Lye said gas readings recorded using measuring equipment inside enclosed farms remained within the permitted limits.
He stressed that these readings did not directly reflect the water quality index or odour levels at Sungai Kereh.
Meanwhile, the state government plans to carry out cleaning works at Parit Cina and Sungai Kereh in the first quarter of next year.
The works are intended to remove accumulated sediment, improve water flow and help reduce pollution in the affected areas.
