KUCHING: Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed under a pilot project to monitor illegal dumpers in the fight against illegal dumping of rubbish.
Kuching South City mayor Dato James Chan Khay Syn said the measure which was implemented at the end of last month is aimed at preventing people from dumping their garbage indiscriminately.
The council hoped that the cameras would force the public to behave as illegal dumping sites have blighted the city landscape for some time.
“There was an urgent need for these CCTVs to monitor the dumping of domestic waste, industrial waste (renovation/construction debris), and household waste at residential areas and by the roadsides.
“The council can’t afford to continuously clean up the mess made by immoral people who dump their rubbish illegally,” he told the New Sarawak Tribune.
Chan added that clearing illegally dumped bulk waste cost the council millions of ringgit. Therefore, the council had opted to use technology as a preventive measure.
“We engaged a contractor to install the CCTVs for the Taman Desa pilot project at Jalan Setia Raja,” he said.
The cameras which would be monitored for a month can detect car registration numbers which can be used to act against the culprits.
No arrest has been made so far, but enforcement officers will keep patrolling the area.
Hefty fines will be imposed on those caught dumping rubbish illegally as discouragement for other people.
“We have footage of an attempt to dump rubbish at the place, but the individual who did it realised the presence of CCTV cameras and took back what he threw away. That was a positive outcome,” he said.
Chan thought that the public can also serve as eyes and ears of the council by reporting illegal dumpers through the conventional way or using iPeople apps.
