‘EIA on Batu Arang incinerator project flawed'

The Star

a day ago

Abdul Hanan (right) with JRTI and NGO members on their way to submit the 12,150 objection forms on the proposed WTE in Batu Arang to the DOE in Putrajaya. — Filepic
THE environment impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) project in Batu Arang is flawed and lacking transparency, says a residents' group in Rawang, Selangor.
Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI) spokesperson Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti, in a statement, said the EIA report excluded viable alternatives and ignored the health, environmental, geological and social concerns raised by the residents.
Incineration, which would be included in the RM4.5bil project, was not the only available waste treatment technology, he added.
'There are other technologies such as anaerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment and material recovery facilities that can also manage municipal waste efficiently.
'Yet, these alternatives have not been considered, narrowing the options to only mass incineration.'
Abdul Hanan also claimed that the EIA report did not offer any meaningful alternatives to the current Batu Arang site.
'One of the parameters used to determine the Batu Arang's suitability is the site's distance from 'sensitive receptors'.
'However, the nearest populated area lies merely 500m away from the site.
'Within one to five kilometres from the site are Batu Arang, Kota Puteri and Bandar Tasik Puteri, with at least 11 schools and 12 places of worship.
'Hence, the statement that Batu Arang is the most suitable site does not stand up to scrutiny,' said Abdul Hanan.
Previously, it was reported that the proposal to build the WTE plant, also known as Sultan Idris Shah Green Energy Park, was deemed to have met the EIA standards.
The EIA report has covered the project's possible impact to water, air and solid waste, in line with the main assessment scopes set by the Department of Environment (DOE), according to reports.
JRTI has submitted 12,150 objection forms in response to the report to the DOE in Putrajaya.
Selayang MP William Leong had also criticised the EIA as being incomplete, claiming that it did not assess the scheduled waste component where the plant is expected to process up to 100 tonnes per day (tpd).
'This is deeply concerning as scheduled waste typically includes substances that are far more toxic and hazardous than municipal solid waste.
'Without a separate and comprehensive assessment specifically addressing the scheduled waste component, the EIA remains incomplete and inadequate as a basis for project approval,' he added.
Leong also raised concerns about traffic congestion and infrastructure strain in the project's vicinity.
'The proposed WTE plant would handle 2,400 tpd of municipal solid waste and is expected to receive about 200 to 495 trucks per day.
'This substantial influx will place significant strain on local infrastructure, leading to traffic congestion and road deterioration.
'With no robust traffic mitigation plan provided in the EIA report, it raises serious concerns for the safety, health and well- being of residents living in close proximity to the project site,' he said.
DOE has not responded to queries regarding the matter as at press time.