PASIR GUDANG : The Department of Environment (DOE) in Johor has initiated investigation on at least 38 industrial factories operating in Pasir Gudang, for non-compliance and flouting the department’s laws, following the recent toxic fume pollution here.State Health, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar said action taken included the issuing of compounds to 37 factory operators who had failed to adhere to the department’s procedures under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.“Of the total, 27 compounds were issued for unscheduled waste disposal, 10 were for industrial effluents and three notices to stop work and notice of demand, each were also issued to six of them.“This is part of our enforcement to crackdown on factories which did not comply with the existing act,” he said.

Khuzzan said the air quality and pollution index reading at the affected site showed no signs of pollution.“Air quality reading in the Pasir Gudang area is at a good level,” he said, adding police would also continue to step up security and conduct road checks while DOE carried out enforcement against errant factory owners.He also confirmed that 100 tonnes of chemical waste had been shipped out of the site for proper disposal.