Despite a recent series of landslides, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) could not stop the hillslope development in Bukit Gasing because doing so would require purchasing the land out of public funds.
Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib told a press conference today that DBKL had initially opposed the project, but now has no choice but to abide by a court order.
“(The developer) Gasing Meridian Sdn Bhd has already won the court case, how can we stop it?
“Now we have to let Gasing Meridian to execute the project but with precautions. If we try to stop them we have to issue a notice of purchase. Who is buying? The public,” he said at a press conference today.
When it was pointed out that there had been a series of landslides in the area over the weekend, he said, “If there are landslides, we will take action together with the developers. It is no problem.”
Pressed further on the issue of landslides after the press conference, he said, “The landslides have been going on for a while. They would have to make corrections.”
However, he said the process could not be expedited because local residents have been complaining about the earthmoving trucks, which have been causing problems with dust and traffic.
Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib told a press conference today that DBKL had initially opposed the project, but now has no choice but to abide by a court order.
“(The developer) Gasing Meridian Sdn Bhd has already won the court case, how can we stop it?
“Now we have to let Gasing Meridian to execute the project but with precautions. If we try to stop them we have to issue a notice of purchase. Who is buying? The public,” he said at a press conference today.
When it was pointed out that there had been a series of landslides in the area over the weekend, he said, “If there are landslides, we will take action together with the developers. It is no problem.”
Pressed further on the issue of landslides after the press conference, he said, “The landslides have been going on for a while. They would have to make corrections.”
However, he said the process could not be expedited because local residents have been complaining about the earthmoving trucks, which have been causing problems with dust and traffic.
This led to a system where Gasing Meridian and other developers had to impose limitations on the trucks moving dirt away from the site, such as its numbers.
Bukit Gasing is located along the border of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, and has been the centre of a five-year legal battle between residents fearing landslides and environmental damage and developers.
The culminated in a Court of Appeal decision on Oct 2 last year in the developer’s favour.
Ahmad Phesal was speaking to reporters today near the site of another recent landslide - Bukit Setiawangsa, which slipped on Dec 30 last year.
In wake of this, he said a 6m-tall wall is being built as the foot of the hill as a temporary measure and is already at 70 percent completion, and will be done in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, the developer I&P Group would have to submit plans for a more permanent measure, while the Public Works Institute (Ikram) is tasked with coming up with a landslide hazard map of Kuala Lumpur in six months.
He said the map would be used to identify slopes that require special attention and as a basis for evaluating future hillslope development proposals.
There are now about 3,000 such developments in Kuala Lumpur, he said.
Bukit Gasing is located along the border of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, and has been the centre of a five-year legal battle between residents fearing landslides and environmental damage and developers.
The culminated in a Court of Appeal decision on Oct 2 last year in the developer’s favour.
Ahmad Phesal was speaking to reporters today near the site of another recent landslide - Bukit Setiawangsa, which slipped on Dec 30 last year.
In wake of this, he said a 6m-tall wall is being built as the foot of the hill as a temporary measure and is already at 70 percent completion, and will be done in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, the developer I&P Group would have to submit plans for a more permanent measure, while the Public Works Institute (Ikram) is tasked with coming up with a landslide hazard map of Kuala Lumpur in six months.
He said the map would be used to identify slopes that require special attention and as a basis for evaluating future hillslope development proposals.
There are now about 3,000 such developments in Kuala Lumpur, he said.
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