ALOR STAR: THE Housing and Local Government Ministry will impose
stricter rules for hillside development projects to prevent landslides
like the ones which occurred in Puncak Setiawangsa and Putra Heights in
Selangor.
Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said housing developers would be
required to prepare a complete engineering solution for development
projects on slopes with a gradient of 25 degrees to 35 degrees, also
known as Class 3 slopes, with immediate effect.
"In some circumstances, we can only plan but cannot avoid incidents
such as landslides from occurring as they are controlled by God," he
said here yesterday.
"However a comprehensive engineering solution will help reduce the risk
and minimise damage in the event of soil erosion at the site.
"Although it would be costly for housing developers to come out with an
engineering solution, the government is left with no choice as the
safety of the people is our priority."
Chor, who is also Alor Star member of parliament, was asked if the
government had plans to bar developments projects on hillslopes.
He urged developers to replicate the engineering solution adopted by housing development firms in Hong Kong.
He said most properties in Hong Kong were built on hillslopes due to
the territory's geography. Developers in Hong Kong had come out with a
commendable engineering solution, such as land reclamation and building
retaining walls.
"There were a few landslides in the northern region of Hong Kong but the damage was not critical."
Chor said at the moment, a ban on hillside housing projects only
applied to slopes with a gradient of more than 35 degrees, or Class 4
slopes.
As for Class 3 slopes, only developers with an engineering solution would be allowed to carry out the projects.
Chor said local authorities had been instructed to carry out annual audits on houses on hillslopes to help check soil erosion.
On Dec 28, a landslide occurred at Puncak Setiawangsa, causing a 50m
concrete embankment to partially collapse. The incident forced families
and shop operators at the bottom of the slope to evacuate the premises.
The following week, a landslide occurred at Bukit Cermin in Persiaran
Putra Bahagia, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
Workers
shoring up an area hit by landslide in Persiaran Putra Bahagia, Putra
Heights, Subang Jaya, yesterday.
Pic by Syarafiq Abd Samad
Read more: New rules for hillside projects - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/new-rules-for-hillside-projects-1.196759?localLinksEnabled=false=03%2F%24m.local.facebook_userinfo.pic_square%3Fpage%3D0#ixzz2HSVSLDwB
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