THE Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) will commit to a programme that will ensure the cleanliness of the Kelana Jaya lakes.
In a tour of the lakes recently, MPPJ president Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar said the Global Environment Centre (GCE) and Friends of Kelana Jaya Lake have identified the pollution sources and the council would help enforce measures to clean up the lake under the Kelana Lake Rehabilitation Programme. Apart from the proponents, the programme also involves Alam Flora and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK).
The present sewerage system empties drain water from properties in the surrounding area, which includes cooking oil from restaurants and other pollutants, into the lake.
“It will be very expensive and time consuming to change the (sewerage) system so we will have to take interim measures,” said Abdul Karim.
“Restaurants should install grease traps to prevent the oil from reaching the lake and residents should play their part in keeping rubbish out of the lake.
“Alam Flora will have to monitor their rubbish traps and clean them regularly to prevent floating debris from staying too long in the water while MPPJ will also be planting water plants in the lake,” he added.
IWK is tasked with upgrading its oxidation pond located next to the lake, as the pond is also a source of pollution. The upgrading works are expected to be completed by March. The oxidation pond was initially made to cater to 9,000 residents but with some 40,000 residents now in the area, the pond could not cope with the demand.
MPPJ will also set up a special committee, comprising the various organisations, to monitor the lake’s condition and meet once a month to discuss the issues.
”MPPJ has spent a substantial amount on renovating the lake park but the lake itself will become an embarrassment to the community if cleanliness is not maintained,” said Abdul Karim.
GEC director Faizal Parish said the centre’s research found the lakes were a regular dumping ground for fishes and that the more aggressive foreign fishes were supplanting local fishes.
The Bandaraya fish, originating from South America, is particularly damaging to the lake’s shores, as the fish is accustomed to digging into the riverbanks, causing the sidewalls of the lake to collapse.
The Talapia fish, from South Africa, is another concern as there are reports of a restaurant in the area catching the fish from the lakes to cook.
”I would like to caution people from eating Talapia sourced from the Kelana Jaya lakes because the waters are very polluted,” said Parish.
Parish said a more concerted effort from residents in the area was needed to keep the lake clean as a lot of rubbish flowed in from the monsoon drains and the nearby LDP highway.