TAMPARULI: About 80 per cent of the drying and cleaning work at the area polluted by biogas water in Kampung Kauluan here has been completed, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.
Speaking after a follow-up inspection today, he said the progress followed several improvement measures directed to the operating company, including the appointment of a new dedicated environmental engineer to manage environmental issues and residents' welfare.
Jamawi said new chicks will not be allowed into the farm for the next three months to temporarily reduce chicken production, allowing the company to clean polluted ponds and transfer excess waste to new ponds before a re-evaluation is conducted.
He stressed that the State Government is firm on the matter, noting that while about 60 per cent of issues under his ministry's purview have been addressed alongside the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, remaining issues such as noise and odour pollution will be referred to the Environment Department.
To further utilise the land, the government plans to collaborate with the company and local villagers to plant corn at the site to serve as feed for the farm's poultry.
