Papan residents hoping stench issue can be resolved
Finding a solution: A file picture of Dr Mah (second from right) talking to residents committee chairman Chong Yan Onn (second from left) during a visit to the Papan landfill on last Friday.
RESIDENTS living around the Papan landfill are looking forward to a stench-free Chinese New Year.
Although the foul odour emitted by the landfill has significantly reduced following an ultimatum issued by the state government against the landfill operator, residents told The Star that the stench was still unbearable on occasions.
Expressing hope that the problem could be resolved once and for all prior to Chinese New Year, Kampung Papan resident Lam Chee Khit said it would be a happy celebration if the landfill operator could fulfil the residents' wishes.
"My children and grandchildren would be back here for Chinese New Year and I do not want them to feel uncomfortable.
"In fact, my children are worried that the stench will have ill effects on my health and have asked me to move to Penang with them," said the 71-year-old who had declined their offer.
"Papan is my home and all my friends are here," he said.
Lam's neighbour, who only wished to be known as Chen, said he would not be able to celebrate in peace if the stench continued to pervade the village.
"Though the air quality in the village has improved in the last few days, I hope the occasional garbage stench that blows this way can be resolved completely," he said.
It was reported that residents living in Papan and surrounding areas had endured the garbage stench for nearly nine months since the landfill started operations early last year.
The stench, it was said, affects about 50,000 residents from Pusing, Papan, Siputeh, Bemban, Lahat, Bukit Merah and Menglembu.
On Jan 20, some hundreds of residents held a protest to pressure the state government into taking immediate action to address the problem.
The state government subsequently issued a stern warning against the landfill operator, giving it a week's time until today to get rid of the stench from the RM19mil landfill.
The landfill, which replaces the Bercham dumpsite, is supposed to be a Level IV landfill with state-of-the-art centralised sanitary site to combat stench.
Just three days after the warning was issued, residents observed a decrease in garbage stench and were relieved of the change.
Stall operator Nur Fatiha Mohd Yusof, 20, from Pusing, also expressed hope that the landfill operator could put an end to the problem permanently.
"The stench still lingers in the air at around 7pm for an hour or two although not as frequently as before.
"I still keep my doors and windows closed most evenings to prevent houseflies from entering," she said.
Petrol station worker K. Mala said the air quality in Pusing, where she worked, had improved although the stench was still obvious at her house in Kampung Papan.
"The intensity has reduced significantly though," said 40-year-old Mala.
Meanwhile, Jason Chan, 34, and his friends said the garbage stench in Menglembu and Bukit Merah had also reduced.
"Though there is still foul smell in the air on rainy days, it is not as bad as before," he said.
When contacted, State Local Government commitee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the state government would continue to monitor the progress of the situation, adding that residents should inform their committee should the situation revert to before.
-The Star-
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