This should not be the case as the Perak government had suspended such activities in the state for more than a month.
Stench aside, the biggest worry is that the pollutants can cause cancer.
The suspension, announced by Perak executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, came after the residents’ plight made headlines in October.
According to some residents, the stench can be smelt late at night or in the wee hours of the morning these days.
The dengue situation in Perak is very alarming.
As of Week 46, there were a total of 5,049 dengue cases in the state, and 14 deaths, against 1,816 cases and two deaths within the same period last year.
Dr Mah has pointed out the breeding places for Aedes mosquitoes, and the question is what are the actions to be taken by the local councils to clear these places.
According to him, the Ipoh city council for instance would hire additional lorries to clear the city’s 1,263 illegal dumpsites.
While it is better to be late than never, I wonder what is the reason for not clearing the dumpsites earlier.
Do we need to have a serious dengue outbreak for the council to sit up?
What is the council’s priority in the first place?
The people, as rate payers have the right to ask such questions.
Dr Mah even gave a phone number (05-2540096) for the public to call to report the location of illegal dumpsites.
Perhaps Dr Mah can also set a time frame for the council to clear any dumpsite reported by the public.
There have been complaints that the council do not act on public complaints promptly.
Anyway, illegal dumpsites are plenty in Ipoh and the council should not have any problem locating them.
MetroPerak had highlighted many of such sites and clogged drains as well.
I must put on record that the council had looked into some of the cases.
But there is a need to get to the bottom of the problem of dirty surroundings.
While the authorities can blame the people for littering, it is also their (authorities) job to go after the litterbugs as well or find ways to prevent littering.
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