JKR Classifies 100 Slopes As Critical

JKR Classifies 100 Slopes As Critical, In Danger Of Collapse
bernama.com 7/3/2005

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- The Public Works Department (JKR) has classified more than 100 slopes, many along roads and residential areas located near hills, in the country as critical, meaning there is the danger of collapse.

JKR Slope Engineering Branch Director Datuk Dr Ashaari Mohamad said Monday rectification work was being carried out on these slopes.

"These are the areas where you find the slopes covered with plastic sheets to prevent further erosion," he told reporters on the sidelines of the one-day seminar on Landslide Monitoring and Disaster Early Warning System in Serdang near here.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College and the Slope Engineering Branch of the JKR.

Dr Ashaari said the rectification work would take weeks to complete.

"We do not want to do the same work twice. So we need to take into account geological data like the slope gradient, the soil and vegetation content and underground water that may flow through it (the slope)," he said.

Dr Ashaari said it was impossible to predict when a slope would collapse or how much damage it might cause.

He also said that a lack of qualified personnel at the JKR Slope Engineering Branch had also slowed down the rectification work.

"We started in February last year and, at the moment, we have over 20 engineers instead of the 45 allocated to us (by the Works Ministry)," he said.

The branch also has the responsibility of drafting the National Slope Master Plan, which will be implemented under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010).

-- BERNAMA