Kuala Lumpur: Hillslope developmenet may be allowed for residential projects because of land shortage.

Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said this after opening a seminar on conservation of the environment yesterday, Bernama reported.

Mohd Isa said the ministry had instructed the Mineral and Geo-Science Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to conduct a study on hill slope development.

"Land is becoming scarce ... we may have to also develop the hillslopes but with regulated supervision to ensure that it will not have any short or long-term effects," he said.

The seminar, organised by the Wangsa Maju Sports and Recreation Club, was aimed at instilling public awareness and conservation of the environment.

On the study by UTM and the Mineral and Geo-Science Department, Mohd Isa said cost the government RM2 million and would be completed by the end of the year.

He said the findings of the study would be used as guidelines by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in the development of hillslopes.

Referring to the development at Bukit Gasing, a forested area between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, Mohd Isa said 40% of the area under DBKL would be gazetted as a green area.

On the Plaza Rakyat project near the Pudu Raya bus terminal that has been abandoned for almost 10 years, Mohd Isa said discussions were being held with the developer.