Flow in the right direction

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TWO Rukun Tetangga (RT) sectors along the 3.1km Sungai Pinang river in Penang have established river care committees to monitor the river’s water quality and the condition of its banks.

They are among eight RT sectors located along the river which will have such committees that will also conduct activities to clean up the river. The setting up of the committees is facilitated by the Centre for Community and Environmental Development (Cenced).

The first committee was formed by the Jalan York RT on Saturday while the Jalan P. Ramlee RT formed its committee yesterday.

Community involvement: GEC River Care Programme coordinator Dr K. Kalithasan (second right) educating the River Care committee members on how to monitor the water quality of Sungai Pinang.

Cenced director Datuk Dr Ong Hean Tee said the centre hoped to facilitate the setting up of the committees in the remaining six RT sectors by May next year.

He said the committees, which would have 10 members each, would help achieve the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s (DID) aim of improving the river’s water quality from Class Three to Class Two by 2013.

He said the committees would have to monitor the river’s water quality and perform health assessment on the riverbank once a month.

“The members must also conduct activities to clean up the river in their move to make Sungai Pinang a Class Two river by 2013,” Dr Ong said after launching the Jalan P. Ramlee committee yesterday.

A view of Sungai Pinang near Jalan P. Ramlee.

He said the setting up of the committee was part of the RM100,000 Sungai Pinang River Care project funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad in partnership with Global Environment Centre (GEC).

The project is supported by the Penang DID and is carried out with the cooperation of the Penang Municipal Council, Department of Environment, Universiti Sains Malaysia, state Education Department, National Integration and Unity Department, Cenced and Water Watch Penang.

Sungai Pinang has been categorised as a Class Three river since 2008.

Rivers in the country are categorised under five classes where Class One rivers are the cleanest and Class Five rivers are the most polluted.