Penang State Exco YB Chow Kon Yeow visits Sungai Juru on 7th August 2008.

Friends of Sungai Juru and residents representative from Taman Bukit Minyak area welcome the visit of Penang State Exco in charge of local government, traffic management and environment, YB Chow Kon Yeow to see for himself the heavily polluted Juru river on 7th August 2008.

YB Chow and his entourage comprising local council - MPSP, Penang DOE and DID officials inspected two areas ie 1) Sungai Juru Dam area near Taman Bukit Minyak dan 2) Sungai Juru - Tok Keramat area near Phase 4 Perai Industrial Area. Friends of Sungai Juru coordinator Tan Chai Liang briefed YB Chow, the officials and media reporters on the four major problems faced by this tidal river, ranging from illegal settlement on river reserves, encroachment on wetlands and mangrove areas along the river banks, serious water pollution from organic and industrial discharge and affluent, sedimentation and silting resulting from land clearing and developments activities at the upstream areas.

Friends of Sungai Juru has also taken the opportunity to hand over of a copy of Memorandum to Penang State Government outlining the problems, recommendations and suggestions on improving Sungai Juru to the Penang State Government.

Our acknowledgement and thanks to Dr Edlic Sathiamurthy, a hydrologist from University Malaysia Terengganu for his views and recommendations on improving Sungai Juru and research paper by Al-Shami S. and others – Effects of pollutionon the diversity and abundance of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Juru river basin.

Here are the snapshots of the visit by YB Chow...

At Sungai Juru Dam Area





At Tok Keramat tidal gate area near phase 4 Perai Ind Area



Close up view of the affluents flowing into Sungai Juru..

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Water Health Check at Sungai Juru Dam conducted on 5/7/2008(New)

Location of Waterway:
a) Sungai Juru Dam area near Tmn Bkt Minyak
b) Parit 4, Bukit Tengah Industrial Area in front of Sky Resources and Petronas

Date 5/7/2008
Time 10.00 am - 11.00 am
Weather : bright sunny day. no rain for past 24 hours.

Conducted By Friends of Sungai Juru
Contact 012-4285453
Crew Size : 2 persons

Here are the results of the water testing ;

Sungai Juru Dam area near Tmn Bkt Minyak
Physical monitoring
Colour and appearance – slightly murky
Smell – smelly
Vegetation – bushes / field grass
Animals – Nil
Activities – human settlement area, housing / construction going on nearby

Chemical monitoring
Variables
PH - 7
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – 8 ppm
Turbidity – 40 JTU
Phosphate – 4 ppm
Nitrate – 5 ppm
Temperature – 28 C
Coliform bacteria - positive

Photograph showing the water testing site.
(to the back is the construction site of the new DID district office)





Parit 4, Bukit Tengah Industrial Area in front of Sky Resources and Petronas

Physical monitoring
Colour and appearance – murky with oilly patches on water surface
Smell – strong smell of grease and oil
Vegetation – bushes / field grass
Animals – Nil
Activities – factories area and eateries and workshops at upstream

Chemical monitoring
Variables
PH - 7
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – 0 ppm
Turbidity – 100 JTU
Phosphate – 4 ppm
Nitrate – 5 ppm
Temperature – 28 C
Coliform bacteria - positive

Photographs showing the location of Parit 4, near Sky Resources factory and Petronas in Bukit Tengah Industrial Area.



Close up view of the oilly water surface...

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Friends of Sungai Juru welcomes academic research on pollution and aquatic diversity in Juru River

Friends of Sungai Juru welcomes the visitation of Professor of Entomology Arshad Ali from University of Florida, IFAS and Salman PhD student(USM) and Encik Shukri, lab technician of USM on 29th May 2008. During the one hour meeting at Seberang Jaya office, Friends of Sungai Juru, Tan Chai Liang briefed them on the background and current situation of Sungai Juru and provided some information on Sungai Juru for them to conduct research on the pollution and aquatic diversity in Juru River in six specific source stations namely Cerok Tok Kun, Sg Pasir, Sg Kelang Ubi, Sg Ara, Sg Permatang Rawa and Juru river near Autocity. They have obliged to provide their research findings to Friends of Sungai Juru's website.

Professor Arshad is a currently a Visiting Professor at USM Penang and specialized in aquatic entomology field. Read more on his profile and publications and technical bulletins.

Professor Arshad Ali from University of Florida, IFAS (centre), Salman PhD Student(USM) at Friends of Sungai Juru Tan Chai Liang's office

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Sungai Juru is still as dirty (updated on 2.5.2008)

More info about the latest condition of Sungai Juru at Dam area near Tmn Bukit Minyak Read The Star's report on Sungai Juru.



Location Map of Sungai Juru Dam area and its surrounding developments



The close up view of Sungai Juru, with many visible floating debris from upstream area..



Close up view of the riverbank area, improvement works to create 5 acre river front recreational area by DID Penang is still ongoing since Oct 2007.. The old chalet structures have been demolished whilst bushes and trees have been trimmed...



The waterways along the Sungai Juru and close to Tmn Bukit Minyak residential area, water condition looks murky and smelly at times. NO improvement !!!!

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Environmental Awareness Camp at Taman Rimba Cerok Tekun, Bukit Mertajam

The program was organized by Penang State Department of Environment together with the co-ordination of Penang State DID. A total of 80 students from various secondary schools of Penang State have been selected to participate in this Environment program held at Taman Rimba Cerok Tekun, Bukit Mertajam from 14th to 16th April 2008.

A river ranger training program for the students was included as part of the actitivies whereby DID Penang also roped in 8 river ranger trainers to conduct the briefing and training the students. The program aims to enhance the awareness level of the students towards environment.. Read more related storey at Star's Eye-opening eco-camp at park.

Here the some snapshots of the programme ;-

Participants attending to the briefing on river ranger program at Taman rimba Cerok Tekun, Jalan Kulim, Bukit Mertajam.



DID Penang officer giving briefing and slide presentation to the students



Click Read More for more photos .....

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Water Health Check conducted on 26th Jan 2008

Name of waterway
at waterway/pond behind MPSP main building at Bandar Perda
The waterway is located at the upstream of Sungai Juru water catchment area

Date 26/1/2008

Time 9.35 am

Weather : bright sunny day . slightly rain last night.

Conducted By Friends of Sungai Juru
Contact 012-4285453
Crew Size : 2 persons

Here are the results of the water testing ;

Physical monitoring
Colour and appearance – slightly blackish
Smell – smelly
Vegetation – bushes / field grass
Animals – Lizard (biawak)
Activities – human settlement area, housing / construction area within Bandar Perda and uncultivated paddy lands

Chemical monitoring
Variables
PH - 8
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – 0 ppm
Turbidity – 40 JTU
Phosphate – 4 ppm
Nitrate – 5 ppm
Temperature – 28 C
Coliform bacteria - positive

Location Map showing the water testing site.



General View of MPSP main building



View of the pond located behind MPSP main building.



Closer view of the water conditions and appearance at the waterway to the pond



Another view of the water conditions at the waterway before the pond ..



More photographs, click more.....

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Launching of new pump house of Parit Lima near Taman Bukit Minyak (New)

The program was launched by ADUN Bukit Tengah YB Ng Siew Lai at the site of Parit Lima Pump house on 19.12.2007. More information about the pump house at Parit Lima : Mitigation plans for new growth sites, The star 20.12.2007.

With the completion of the RM660,000 pump house at Parit Lima, the two water pumps are capable of pumping out the 800 littles of water per minute automatically from Parit Lima direct into Sungai Juru whenever heavy rains and the water level raise to the alarming level. It is hoped that the pump house will serve the purpose to alleviate the flooding problems affecting the residents of Taman Sentul , Taman Sentul Jaya and Taman Mangga /Taman Pinang. Friends of Sungai Juru will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this pump house and will be back with more updated information on the flooding situations of the area one year from the launching date 18/12/2008.

Photographs on the launching of Parit Lima pump house

Location Map of Parit Lima- near North South Highway in juru area



View of the site of pump house at Pairt Lima during launching date on 19.12.2007



Click read more for more photos and info....

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Environment Awareness Programme at Juru River Dam (New)

The envinronment awareness prgramme for Bukit Tengah area has been held at Juru River Dam area on 4th Nov 2007. The program was organised by LA 21 Environment Working Group for Bukit Tengah Area and launched by YB Ng Siew Lai ADUN Bukit tengah. About 600 people turned up for the event including 160 students from MRSM Transkrian, Nibong Tebal. Amongst the activities held during the event were fishing competition, children coloring contest, water quality test and EM “Effective microorganism” demonstration, exhibition, quiz contest, aerobic exercise etc.

Below are some snapshots of the activities ...

Fishing competition... About 57 anglers took part in the competition



Briefing on water quality test to MRSM students by Mr Tan Chai Liang, Friends of Sungai Juru/Chairman of KRT Taman Bkt Minyak.



Click more for more photopgraphs..........

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Upcoming Environment Awareness Program at Juru River Dam on 4th November 2007 (Sunday)-New !

LA 21 Environment Working Group for Bukit Tengah Area will be organising an Environment Awareness Program on 4th November 2007 (Sunday) at the Juru River Dam area, Time from 8 am to 12 noon.

The program, with its theme “Environment preservation, our shared responsibility”, will be officially launched by Penang State Assemblyman for Bukit Tengah Area, YB Ng Siew Lai. About 500 participants including 150 students from nearby schools are expected to join various activities of the program!

Some of the programme activities are;-

Fishing competition,
Children coloring contest,
Water quality test and EMO “Effective Micro organism” demonstration;
Exhibition,
Quiz contest,
Aerobic exercise,
Lucky draw, etc

The organizing committee welcome all residents and youth from nearby Bukit Tengah area to join various activities line up for them. For enquiries, kindly contact LA 21 Secretariat Tel Nos 012-4779330 / 012-4285453

Some snapshots of the members of the organizing committee which has held its second meeting as well as visiting to the Sungai Juru Dam area on 8th October 2007 to gear up preparation for this event..

For more information, please click "Read More"

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UMT students make technical visit to Sungai Juru on 13th September 2007.

A group of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) students comprising 65 of them, who has earlier come to know about Sungai Juru through sungaijuru.com portal, contacted Friends of Sungai Juru expressing their interest to visit the river as one of their destinations during their 3-day visit to Penang. The purpose of the visit is to give exposure to the students as well as to enhance students knowledge on environment management.

On site to receive them are Friends of Sungai Juru and Chairman of Rukun Tetangga Taman Bukit Minyak, Mr Tan Chai Liang who later gave a short briefing about the pollution of Sungai Juru, past activities and programs. A representative from Penang DID also gave a short briefing to the students. Also present at site are Puan Cecelia Wong, a Councillor of MPSP, Mr Chew Eng Seng, officer of MPSP as well as 2 representatives from DID Penang and committee members of Rukun Tetangga Taman Bukit Minyak.

Below are snapshots of the students visit to Sungai Juru…

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