BLASTING works carried out by developers should have the approval from the local authority, which takes into account consent from the police, Department of Environment and Mineral and Geoscience Department.

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Ahmad Kabit said the council would only authorise a developer to carry out blasting works once all the three departments had given their approval in writing.

He said blasting work at the Tiara Intan project site in Bukit Indah was carried out without MPAJ’s approval and upon receiving complaints from residents of Bukit Indah, the council alerted the police to put a stop to it.

''The developer was given the approval to buy materials for blasting by the police but they were not allowed to carry out blasting there as MPAJ had not given the final okay,'' Ahmad said commenting on reports that illegal blasting work had threatened the safety of residence in Bukit Indah.

He said MPAJ had instructed the developer to submit a geotechnical report on the slope stability of the area and to provide a traffic impact assessment report to the council.

''MPAJ is constantly monitoring development projects and any project approved by us has gone through the necessary procedures and steps,'' Ahmad said.

He said MPAJ would issue stop- work orders if the developer failed to meet with safety aspects and construction procedures as stipulated by the council.

Ahmad said MPAJ’s various departments had studied all aspects pertaining to the project, and issues such as traffic congestion, environmental degradation and high density of residents had been studied thoroughly.

''We have taken into account all aspects of development before we gave the approval for the Tiara Intan project.

''We are satisfied with the reports from our internal departments as well as consultants on topography and soil stability for the project to carry on,'' Ahmad said.

Asked to comment on hillside housing estates and development sites said, Ahmad said Dataran Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa, Zoo View, Taman Melawati and Cheras Baru had been identified as high-risk areas because of the probability of landslides.

''These areas should not be classified as dangerous as they are merely high-risk areas.

''Development projects can still be carried out at any of these areas, provided all technical aspects and building specifications have been adhered to,'' Ahmad said.

He added that MPAJ looked at the merit of each case before approving a hillside development project.

''If the technical report states that it is dangerous to develop a particular area then no development projects will be approved there,'' he said.