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VI. PROBLEMS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES
[ VI-A | VI-B | VI-C | VI-D | VI-E | VI-F | VI-G | VI-H | VI-I | VI-J ]
F. Solid waste
Solid waste pollution is also one of the main sources of water pollution in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Klang valley. In 1993, the urban population generated 5.2 million tons of solid waste. Kuala Lumpur alone is expected to generate 1,022,000 million tons of solid waste by the year 2000. Despite the provision by the local authorities of a high level of service in waste collection, the disposal of unsafe solid waste, the lack of landfills and illegal dumping remain serious problems. Again, enforcement efforts by the local authorities are hampered by the lack of capacity and legal authority.
The Klang valley region produces over 3,500 tons per day of solid waste from household, commercial and industrial areas (chapter V, section D). As a way of easing its financial burden and improving services, City Hall of Kuala Lumpur has privatized garbage collection and sewage treatment in the city (annex II). Although those were federally mandated initiatives, it removed a major financially burden from City Hall. However, it is reasonable to expect that in parallel with the fees charged by the private operators of those services there would be an appropriate reduction in the assessment rates collected by City Hall.The privatization initiative also raises the expectation that City Hall will concentrate on making the city greener, cleaner and free of pollution.
During recent years urban areas of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur have experienced unprecedented growth. The rapid increase in the urban population, as well as the general improvement in urban living standards and education levels, has raised the demand for services provided by local authorities. City Hall of Kuala Lumpur has taken the brunt of the population boom. That has given rise to a host of problems. The ability of City Hall to provide satisfactory urban services has been severely limited, if the growing number of public complaints through the media is taken as an indication of the extent of dissatisfaction.
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