AFTER numerous failed attempts by the Ipoh City Council to close down the city’s open landfill in Bercham, residents living nearby have taken it upon themselves to ensure it happens this time around.
The residents are unhappy that the landfill continues to be in operation despite a recent announcement by Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim that the council would shut it down by the last day of 2011.
Gathering at the site yesterday, the group called on the council to expedite the closing of the city’s main dumping ground.
Kampung Lim Tan resident Capt (R) Abdul Razak Mohamad said promises to close down the landfill had been made many years back, but until now, nothing had been done.
“This has been going on for so many years and still the council has not managed to solve it.
“We appeal to the parties concerned to accelerate the closure of the dump site because it has been operating without following proper procedures.
“The pollution would not arise if the site was managed in accordance with the procedures set out by the Environmental Department,” he said, claiming that the stench from the site affected about 6,000 residents in the area.
Another villager, Teoh Geok Lim, 76, said the existing landfill had reached its maximum capacity and that it was high time to close it down.
Fellow villager Abdul Razak, 65, said a previous proposal to construct a new landfill at a 203ha site in Bukit Kinding, near Tanjung Rambutan, some years back never took place due to public protests.
“Now, residents in Papan are also protesting the council’s plans to build a waste disposal site in Papan. How long is this to go on?” he asked.
Taman Berjaya resident S. Sugunapala, 43, said he had been putting up with the smell of garbage for the last 20 years.
He added that there had been times when guests invited to weddings or kenduri held in the area refused to eat due to the odour.
“My three children also suffer from asthma, which is made worse due to the air pollution.
“We really hope the council can expedite the closing of the site,” he added.
Tanjung Rambutan village chief Ayob Zainal claims that the dumpsite is also used by drug addicts to carry out their activities.
Hulu Kinta assemblyman Datuk Rusnah Kassim, who was also present, said the landfill is still operating despite it now being the first week of the year.
“I was informed by the Datuk Bandar that the new centralised sanitary landfill in Papan is being constructed and should be operational by March.
“If this is the case, I sincerely hope the Bercham landfill will be closed by April as promised,” she said, adding that she had received numerous complaints about the dump site from the public.
Meanwhile, council Community Affairs and City director Zulkiple Jaafar Sidek gave his assurance that the landfill in Bercham would be closed by April as planned.
He said the new RM19mil modern landfill, to be built over a 224ha plot in Papan, about 16km from Ipoh, would become the city’s main garbage disposal site once it is completed.
“Although the said area is under the Batu Gajah District Council, the city council has been given the green light to operate the state-of-the-art centralised sanitary landfill.
“When that takes place, residents in Bercham and Tambun will no longer have to bear the horrible stench from the present landfill,” he said.
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