Residents of Broga are elated over the government's decision to reject the environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the sanitary landfill project proposed near Semenyih by the Selangor government.

The New Straits Times today quoted Department of Environment (DOE) Director-General Rosnani Ibarahim advising the state government to identify an alternative site after finding the earmarked spot in a water catchment area to be unsuitable.

Contacted today, Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem action committee chairperson Prof P Ramasamy said the decision to reject the EIA for the proposed sanitary landfill has vindicated their long struggle.

"The decision proves us right in our protest against the multi-billion ringgit incinerator project because that site is also in the same water catchment area," he said when contacted.

"I don't understand how the DOE could approve the incinerator project and reject this one despite very similar grounds of objections," he added.

Ramasamy said the residents have been struggling since November 2002 to highlight the crucial points about the area earmarked for the incinerator plant as an unsuitable site.

"The DOE used the same point to reject the sanitary landfill as us in making our point during our protests and meetings with government officials," he said.

"We have been asking the government not to proceed with the incinerator project for so long but no one is listening to us. But this (DOE's rejection) is enough proof that we have got it right," he added.

Late last May, the DOE gave conditional approval to build a 1,500-tonne incinerator project in Broga, prompting an outrage among local residents.

Review approach

Ramasamy said the committee is meeting tomorrow to review the approach in light of the DOE's decision on the proposed sanitary landfill.

"Whether it (EIA) was meant for the sanitary landfill or incinerator, the fact remains that they are still in a water catchment area."

The EIA for the sanitary landfill was reportedly rejected last month, with the DOE citing steep hill and surrounding developments.

Rosnani, however, was also quoted clarifying that the landfill had nothing to do with the incinerator project as the latter was a federal government project.

The RM1.5 billion incinerator project has been criticised by local residents and international activists who promote alternative waste management methods, citing waste of resources, financial burden and a public health risk.

Despite being located on a hill slope and within a river basin that is the course of drinking water supply to millions of households in the Klang Valley, the DOE approved the project with certain mitigating conditions for the Housing and Local Government Ministry to fulfill.

The incinerator is slated for commercial operations in 2007, following a law on an integrated municipal solid waste management pending in Parliament.

Proposed by the state government , the sanitary landfill is to be managed by Worldwide Holdings Bhd, a unit under the State Economic Development Corporation.

According to the NST report, the state government is looking for other landfill sites to replace the Ayer Hitam landfill in Puchong which is scheduled for closure by year end.

In early Sept, Broga residents submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appealing for his attention to their plight.

Announce cancellation

Broga sub-committee chairperson Dr Zulkefly Mohamad Omar was happy that the DOE had rejected the EIA for the proposed sanitary landfill on the same arguments that residents have been using against the incinerator project.

"All this while, we have been opposed to the incinerator due to its location in the water catchment area. We feel that an incinerator would also be discharging waste, which is why a sanitary landfill was proposed nearby," he said.

"Now we want Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to announce the cancellation of the incinerator project.

"He could easily do this because the earmarked land belongs to the state which was the one to gazette and classify the area as an environmentally-sensitive zone where any form of development is strictly prohibited."

Zulkefly said Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting and Mohd Khir have both previously said that no development should take place within a water catchment area.

"Now, they have to live up to their statements because the local structure plan clearly states so."

DOE officials could not be reached for further comments today.