Penang govt apologises for rock blasting damage to apartment

Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd (PIC) will reduce the drilling depth and weight of explosives to control rock blasting impact at a site near the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to Ayer Itam bypass.

PIC chief executive officer Farizan Darus said these were among the contractor’s improvement measures to prevent damage caused by rock blasting work to the Jay Series condominium from recurring.

It will also heighten safety measures through the installation of soil cover layers, iron mesh, geotextile, and sandbags covering a larger area to accommodate possible rock cavity issues and unforeseen conditions.

“The contractor will also add soil load on top and to the sides with additional steel plates and kentledge blocks as additional protection to reduce the blast impact,” he said at a media briefing at the Chief Minister’s Office in Komtar today.

Yesterday, the media reported that two condominiums in Island Park, located near the site of the highway construction project, suffered damage after being hit by rock and soil debris from blasting activities.

Farizan said the damage to the Jay Series condominium area was from flying soil chunks as a result of controlled rock blasting work carried out at the project hillside area at location CH1875 yesterday.

He said work was carried out according to the prescribed procedures and usually, there were no incidents of large quantities of rock or soil flying as far as 100m from the blast site.

“Several findings were made based on the evidence obtained at the scene, including the presence of rock chunks with fault lines.

“Heavy rainfall that occurred on the night before the incident caused the soil condition to change into chunky particles, causing damage to facilities, including residents’ cars at the condominium,” he added.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yow

Contractor to foot repair costs

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow apologised to the affected residents over the incident and directed the contractor to take responsibility for the damage caused.

He hoped the project team would enhance safety measures and precautions, especially during rock blasting work, to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The project is one of several under the Major Roads and Third Link Components and the Penang Transport Master Plan, which commenced in 2021 for Section 1, and 2022 for Sections 2 to 6.

- Bernama