Geetha Krishnan, The Star 29 Dec 09;
THE price to pay for development is steep and evidence is slowly emerging in the South Klang Valley of the sacrifices needed to spur growth.
Over a year ago, verdant hills dotted the landscape near the Sepang-Putrajaya border. The construction of a golf course has since decimated the natural greenery, to the horror of motorists used to the pleasant drive prior to the devastation.
As the land bank belongs to a commercial entity, such a trade can be expected as there are dollar signs in the equation. However, what if the administration joins the foray?
The Sungai Jelok Forest Reserve near the Kajang Prison simply exists in name as 80% of the lowland diptocarp jungle has been ravaged under the pretence of reforestation. The clandestine plundering activities involved bartering precious timber for rubber timber clone saplings.
The law states that a permanent forest reserve cannot be logged yet the Selangor Forestry Department issued logging permits to two private companies in 2007. Only 4% of the profits from the lopsided timber sale went into the state coffers.
It does not require environmentalists to point out that clearing a forest has repercussions. Flood waters rise swiftly these days in Kajang and one of the causes is said to be random forest clearing.
This same activity is causing distress to Hulu Langat folk, many who are poor villagers dependent on the tourism or fish-rearing industries to feed their families.
Trees are being felled in the district for the RM8.2bil Pahang-Selangor interstate raw water transfer project under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry. The RM3.9bil Langat 1 component involves the construction of a 44.6km tunnel from Pahang to Hulu Langat and will be completed in 2014.
The project is being blamed for polluting Sungai Congkak, a popular tourist spot while shallow retention ponds unable to hold large volumes of water have damaged fish-rearing ponds. No doubt the project will address Selangor’s future water needs but what of the long-term impact?
Meanwhile, high ammonia levels detected in Sungai Langat forced the closure of the Cheras 11th Mile water treatment plant in July, days after the Salak Tinggi water treatment plant shut down for a similar reason associated with Sungai Labu.
Bagan Lalang’s eco-tourism potential is under duress due to the Sungai Sepang Kecil river-deepening and widening activities by the authorities. The riverine mangroves lining the river have perished in the process. The Malaysian Nature Society has also voiced concerns about the sandbank built near the Jimah coal-fired power plant in Negri Sembilan encroaching into Selangor.
At least two municipalities were quoted in the media for facing critical solid waste management problems.
While the Kajang Municipal Council was put in a quandary when the Sungai Sedu dumpsite could no longer accept its refuse, the Sepang Municipal Council urged the state government to hasten the opening of the Tanjung 12 sanitary landfill in Kuala Langat due to issues with the Ampar Tenang dumpsite. Both dumpsites are operating beyond capacity.
A crisis of a different kind unfolded in Taman Cheras Awana on Nov 18 when a 50m-long gabion wall collapsed and flattened several cars and a motorcycle. Investigations revealed that the 4m-high wall was not built according to the design specified by the council’s engineering department.
On a positive note, Kajang is expected to benefit from several flood mitigation measures in place. Time will tell if the problem of several decades will finally be solved.
