BY GRACE CHEN

Algal bloom at the Putrajaya Lake early this year. — filepic

MALAYSIA’s federal administrative capital of Putrajaya is not a sanctuary to only people; it was discovered that the Putrajaya Wetlands Park was also a paradise for nearly 2,000 water birds from almost 200 species.

Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) environment, lake and wetland section head and assistant director Normaliza Noordin said the man-made wetland was the ideal habitat for the birds because of its water quality.

However, in April, symptoms of algal bloom and dead fish were seen in some parts of the lake. Traces of E.coli, which is bacteria found in the faeces of humans and animals, were also detected.

Development and human actions were blamed, namely water from washing machines flowing into drains, cracked sewage pipes, the washing of dirty dishes outdoors as well as overflow from portable toilets from the many events organised in Putrajaya.

The weekly farmers market in Precinct 3 with stalls washing animal blood and waste directly was also blamed for the pollution.

Normaliza said the only way to clean up the lake was to drain the water and fill it up again but this would be very costly.

In June, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar told thousands of people who had gathered at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre to take care of the planet.

In August, passengers of Nadi Putra bus No 502 said they were fed up with the service’s lack of punctuality.

Syarikat Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya (PAPSB) chief executive officer Ab Rahim Md Junoh said technical failures and bad driver attitude were to blame.

Pollution reared its ugly head again in October with the Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant in Dengkil, Selangor, having to be shut down.

The Sepang district, which include Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, experienced water cuts for the third time in a year. The first water cut in September was due to the discovery of contaminants in the river.

In November, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) deputy chief executive officer Dr Mohd Pauze Mohamad Taha said the recycling cage programme would continue despite the fact that they had become eyesores, no thanks to Malaysians’ poor attitude towards waste separation.

The cages that had been placed at 4B Apartment in Precinct 8 in September, had become a dumping ground for rotten food and unwanted mattresses.

Mohd Pauze said the programme would be continued and hoped to see an eventual change in the people’s attitude and mentality.

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