Places like England’s Lake District, once home to famous romantic poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, are still known for their mystic beauty and crystal waters. Too bad the same can’t be said about lakes in some of our municipalities – the mention of which simply produce complaints and embarrassment.
There are several lakes in Petaling Jaya, and sadly, a number of them have earned the reputation for being polluted or in dire need of a spruce up. But help is on the way for these lakes, in the form of Kampung Tunku assemblyman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou, Rukun Tetangga sectors and residents associations as well as some NGOs.
Dr Wong has a three-pronged plan and it is scheduled to kick off and snowball starting from March. His plan will be aimed at improving environmental conditions at the lakes, increase their recreational usage while knitting the different communities of Petaling Jaya together.
The idea has already received the support of residents. “It will be a joint effort and we will bring in a few NGOs like Global Environment Centre (GEC) to help out,” Dr Wong told Star Metro. To do this, four lakes have been identified in Kelana Jaya, Taman Aman, Taman Jaya and PJS 10.
Kelana Jaya lakes – all five of them are highly polluted. The former mining ponds, once a natural habitat for local plants and fish like lampam, toman and haruan and water birds like rails and herons, have become a dumping ground for rubbish. Pollution at four of the five lakes have been tested at Class 5 level (deemed unsuitable for use) while the fifth was tested at Class 3 (suitable for tolerant aquatic species and for water supply with extensive treatment).
GEC, the Malaysian Anglers Association and the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) together with Alam Flora and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) have for the past year, been working to help desludge and install aerators in the lakes and put in more rubbish traps in monsoon drains that lead to the lakes. Rehabilitation work on the Kelana Jaya lakes area is probably the most intensive of all the four areas.
Taman Aman fares a little better. There is some refuse that comes in from a few drains and run-offs from the poles of the LRT lines. Some rubbish also gets in from a nearby squatter village. The lake is also overgrown with weeds. Occasionally, raking of rubbish and clearing of water weeds are done. Vandalism has also taken its toll on the recreational area. The lights installed at the park have been damaged, while the ropes along the jetty, which act as a safety barrier, have been cut off. The park also has late night visitors – people who come in the wee hours of the morning just to hang out. More worrying, though, is the regular incidence of snatch thefts around the area.
Taman Jaya went under a desilting process last year. Currently, workers are trying to improve the water quality in the lake, and there is talk of having a living museum in that area to attract more visitors and even tourists. Although new, the lake in PJS 10, has been grouped together for the upcoming project.
Dr Wong has called for residents and organisations to come together, to form a united front, tentatively called “Petaling Jaya Friends of the Lakes”. This environment and community effort will involve a triangle of three residential areas: Sea Park, Taman Len Seng and SS3.
SEA Park Residents Association chairman Andy Teo, Taman Len Seng (Section 22) RT chairman G. Rajendram and SS3 RT chairman S. Narasingham have already agreed to include their neighbourhoods in the plan.
“This plan is like the anti-crime ‘golden triangle’ that we have just set up,” Dr Wong said. “Crime is without borders, so if we make that area crime-free, thieves will move elsewhere, so the anti-crime triangle should expand.
“That same idea should be adapted towards environmental consciousness as well – and if this ‘golden triangle’ succeeds, we will look into ways to include more areas in Petaling Jaya.” Dr Wong is also convinced that the sooner such a project kicks off, the quicker results will be seen.
“We should not delay this any longer,” he said. He suggested that the RM400 monthly stipend that each RT receives from the
government be channelled towards social activities. Dr Wong has also promised to look into an extra RM1,000 per year to be allocated for environmental purposes.
“Despite that, we need a team effort,” he said. A few ideas, like a lake and hill run, have been planned. Such events will give people the opportunity to discover more about the areas, and participate in healthy activities.