Residents at De Puncak Ukay, Taman Ukay Perdana in Ampang fear for their safety after learning that a housing project will be built on a steep hillslope near their homes, reported The Star.
In fact, the development comprising 100 superlink homes will be constructed on a Class 4 slope. Class 1 slopes have angles of under 15 degrees, while Class 4 slopes are considered the riskiest as they are more than 35 degrees.
According to De Puncak Ukay Residents Association (DePURA) Chairman Zaini Ramlee, residents only learned that the project was approved by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) after they got letters for a dilapidation survey.
“The developers were given approval in 2008, but works have not started. Now, we have found out that the approval for the project was based on the 2008 application. How can this be when any development order issued only has a two-year time limit?”
He said residents are seriously concerned over the project as it is merely 50 metres away from existing houses. MPAJ should have first informed and consulted the locals prior to giving their blessing to the proposed development, given the previous occurrences of landslides in the vicinity.
“Considering the track record of landslides in the area, projects such as these should have been discussed with the residents,” noted Zaini, adding they have sent protests letters to MPAJ and Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
“With this kind of topography, building the houses is going to be challenging. How can the developers guarantee that there will not be any landslide or soil erosion that could affect us?’
Moreover, there is only one access road going into the site. Thus, when construction starts, traffic could worsen due to the heavy machinery going in and out of the area, he said. This will further exacerbate the congestion in the area amidst the ongoing construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) in Jalan Ukay Perdana.
As such, residents want MPAJ and the Selangor state government as well as the developer to establish safety measures to prevent accidents and landslides.
“I also want to remind developers who tend to focus on profitability that in our policy, profitability must come with social responsibility,” added Zaini.
Image sourced from Suara Perak
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