BY OH ING YEEN

The authorities are putting their foot down by seizing several parcels of land used as illegal dumping sites.

This is the first of such seizure in the Petaling District by the land office.

As reported by StarMetro, according to data from the state and land offices from 2008 to March 2016, only one plot has been seized in Gombak and another in Hulu Langat.

Selangor Local Government, New Village Development and Legalising of Factories Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah, officers from local councils, Selangor Economic Planning Unit, Petaling Land Office and the Drainage and Irrigation Department conducted spot-checks in Section 5 of Bukit Serdang, Taman Mas Sepang, and two sites in Taman Putra Prima, Puchong.

According to Ean Yong, the spot-checks were conducted based on public complaints.

“Land office has activated land seizure proceedings under the National Land Code. Once it is completed, the land can be confiscated.

“We will also continue to monitor the sites”.

He said landowners who claim ignorance were not excused.

“What happens on their land is the landowner’s responsibility. Claiming they did not know what was going on is not acceptable.

“Compound notices have been issued to the offenders.”

Elaborating further on the problem, Ean Yong said the illegal dump site in Bukit Serdang was an old issue.

“There are four pieces of land, two are registered to companies and the other two are owned by individuals.

“The Subang Jaya Municipal Council had previously conducted a spot-check and sealed off the land as well as issued compound notice.

“However, it was difficult to ban anyone from entering as it was an open space and the owner did not fence up the land.

“Under the law, the responsibility is on the owner,” he reiterated.

“We suspected methane gas was burning underground and affecting neighbours as well as residents in Bandar Putra Permai and Lestari Perdana.

“We did see some efforts by the landowner to put out the fire,” he added.

It was also reported by StarMetro (“Decade-old illegal dumpsite still in use, July 11”) that lorries were seen arriving every five to 10 minutes to dump rubbish at the site, located off Jalan BS5/27 and Jalan Bersatu near the Bukit Serdang Sports Arena.

Residents living nearby said the illegal dumpsite had existed for more than 10 years.

In Taman Putra Prima, Puchong, one site was partially owned by state and a private owner.

In Taman Putra Prima, Puchong, an operator rented the land from the owner for a recycling business.

“But the tenant used it as an open dumping site for domestic waste,” said Ean Yong.

At a river reserve in Taman Mas Sepang, the enforcement team found construction and industrial wastes along the river bank.

Also helping in the spot-check were officers from Sepang Municipal Council.