Monitor hill projects, council told

By LOOI SUE-CHERN
THE Penang Municipal Council needs to monitor hill slope development projects more closely as some projects in Penang have resulted in hills being exposed to landslides, State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Datuk Koay Kar Huah said.
He said more stringent regulations were needed to ensure that developers complete all earthworks before construction work.
He said the council should ensure that developers abide by its guidelines.
“Some developers are not taking proper measures when developing hill slopes. They just clear the land at the bottom and start construction work on the buildings before carrying out earthworks on the upper parts of the slopes which need to be reinforced and protected against soil erosion,” Koay explained.
He said those who did not comply with regulations set by the authorities should be ordered to stop work and have their development projects reviewed.
Koay said some development projects in Penang had resulted in hills being cut and exposed to landslides.
“Hills in Paya Terubong, Bukit Jambul and those facing the beaches in Batu Ferringhi have been cut to put up landed properties and apartment buildings.
“The development in Batu Ferringhi has caused soil to be washed down to the sea in some places,” he told reporters after officiating at a talk on Current Environmental Issues and Society’s Role at Menara Greenview’s community hall in Penang recently. The talk was attended by Menara Greenview and Green Lane residents.
Koay, who is also Seri Delima assemblyman, urged the public to do their part to protect the environment and not just rely on government departments and non-governmental organisations to do so.
“We can prevent the environment from worsening by recycling, reducing waste, saving energy and refraining from disposing of our garbage wherever we please,” he said.
The talk was delivered by Centre for Community and Environmental Development director and Penang Environment Working Group Committee chairman Datuk Dr Ong Hean Tee.
Dr Ong listed overpopulation, over-development, deforestation, biodiversity loss, air pollution, chemical pollution, ozone layer thinning, global warming and climate change as the issues threatening the environment.
He said politicians, government servants, business folk, environmental activists, leaders and the general public had a role to play to protect the environment.
“All should have knowledge on current environmental issues and educate, motivate and guide their families, relatives, friends and colleagues to have their own environmental projects,” he explained.