KUCHING: The Mukah Sessions Court on Tuesday fined the proprietor of a palm oil factory in Mukah RM25,000 in default three months’ jail for discharging harmful effluent into a storm drain.
Mukah Kilang Kelapa Sawit Sdn Bhd was found to have discharged untreated effluent containing substances in concentrations exceeding the stipulated limits under Regulation 12(4), Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulations 1977 on Oct 3, 2013 around 10.05am.
Analysis conducted on the effluent found the concentration of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) three days, 30 degrees Celsius, was 26,800 milligrams per litre, which exceeded the 100 milligrams per litre limit and contravened Condition 2.1 of the Compliance Schedule No. JPKKS 001674A of the proprietor’s licence.
This is an offence under Section 16(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and punishable under Section 16(2) of the same Act.
A statement issued by the Department of Environment yesterday said the case was mentioned before the Mukah Sessions Court on Jan 27 with Shaliza Shaharum and Ann Maurine acting as prosecuting officers while Judge Jason Juga presided. The statement said any holder of a licence who contravenes Section 16(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 is guilty of an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of RM25,000 or up to two years in jail or both.
“A further fine of RM1,000 for every day that the offence is continued after a notice… has been served upon him (the proprietor),” added the statement.