MPKj to take legal action against developer

The Star 6/9/2004 By YIP YOKE TENG

THE Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) will take action against a developer that started a construction project without the council’s consent. 

This is not the developer’s only offence as its irresponsible conduct is believed to be the cause of frequent flash floods and, ironically, water shortage at low-cost flats in Taman Putra Budiman in Balakong. 

The developer’s land clearing activities in Taman Putra Budiman, has resulted in frequent flash floods where flood waters can rise up to 1.5m high. 

The frequent floods have damaged a water pumphouse which provides water supply to 660 low-cost flats near the construction site.  

Perbadanan Urus Air Selangor (PUAS) had been forced to repair the pump house twice over the last five months, spending more than RM20,000 each time.  

Unfortunately, the water pump broke down again two months ago following a flash flood and had not been repaired ever since.  

As a result, residents of the low-cost flats more often than not, have to live with dry taps or cope with low-water pressure.  

“I have to stay awake after midnight to do the laundry because that is the only time of the day when my house gets water supply,” said resident Lim Lai Yong, 47.  

“We can't cook for lunch and dinner because there’s no water during these periods.  

“Eating out every day is expensive and we need to buy drinking water,” she added.  

It was learnt that the developer had ignored three notices sent by MPKj.  

In the notices the council had ordered it to stop work, build proper drainage, silt trap and wash trough, turf the slopes and clean up mud and dust in the surrounding areas.  

Balakong assemblyman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, who visited the area on Friday, said the water situation was sometimes made worse as the Cheras Reservoir often broke down.  

“I hope MPKj will take sterner action against this developer.  

“It has caused many residents to suffer; government agencies like PUAS have to face pressure and bear the high cost incurred,” he said.  

Also present during the visit were Taman Balakong Jaya MCA chairman Lam Wai Loon, PUAS senior technical assistant Kassim Arshad and MPKj engineer Fadilah Razali.