Living on the edge in Taman Ukay Heights

Ukay Heights residents claim that 60,000 tonnes of soil have been dumped at the project site. The loose soil washed down during a downpour affected houses in Taman Ukay Heights.

CONDITIONS attached to a project site as stipulated by a local authority are there for a reason – to prevent untoward incidents.

However, reports of disasters as a result of non-adherence to pre-set conditions at construction sites crop up all the time.

The recent incident at Taman Ukay Heights in Ampang is one such example.

The affluent neighbourhood is not flash-flood prone, but on Nov 11, residents were caught off guard when muddy waters rushed downhill creating a river-like current that damaged everything in its path.

A downpour was the precursor to the flash flood affecting a large part of the housing estate leading up to Lorong Kolam Ayer Lama.

The incident even caused a retention wall at one of the houses to collapse.

A project site uphill of the housing estate was identified as the source of the problem.

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had earlier issued a temporary stop-work order to the project contractor for failing to adhere to conditions of the work site.

The stop-work order was issued because of aggressive traffic flow of lorries and unsafe work conditions.

Drains clogged by silt and debris from the collapsed retention wall of a house being cleared on Nov 15.

Part of the conditions to the stop-work order was to build silt traps, wash troughs and rearrange traffic flow.

However, before the contractor could fulfil the conditions, the flash flood occurred.

The contractor, according to MPAJ, was engaged to upgrade the monsoon drains and carry out slope strengthening and stabilisation works.

According to residents, an estimated 60,000 tonnes of soil and rubble was dumped and loaded onto the slope skirting the ravine at Jalan Teberau.

This figure was derived based on the number of lorries (20-tonne lorries) carrying soil to the site.

Heavy rain on Nov 11 caused water to push the earth downhill, causing havoc in Ukay Heights.

On Nov 13, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin visited the neighbourhood to gauge the situation.

When met at a separate event, Zuraida, who is also the Housing and Local Government Minister said a construction site nearby was responsible for the flash floods.

She said the ministry would need to review and study ways to stop flash floods caused by activities at construction sites.

StarMetro visited the neighbourhood when clean-up works were under way and found MPAJ, KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd and a group of workers undertaking the task.

Residents claimed that the landowner of the site sent workers to help in the clean-up effort.

However, workers clearing silt from the drains were seen dumping earth back from where it originated.

Residents who caught the workers in action, put a stop to it.

Dr R. Sharmila said it was ridiculous to dump the earth back at the project site as another downpour could cause another mudflow.

After the earlier mudflow, residents fear for their safety should the next downpour unleash another nightmare in their path.

A resident, who declined to be named said, “Many landowners develop and redevelop their land, as well as reconstruct their houses in big scale, and the neighbours patiently put up with the inconvenience.

“But this landowner has totally disregarded the effects of the activities to the surrounding.

“With an estimated 60,000 tonnes of earth uphill, it is like 60,000 cars waiting to come crashing down on my property,” he said, adding that the roads were also damaged by the heavy use by lorries carrying earth.

Another resident, who also declined to be named said there were natural streams running on the land which were buried under piles of earth.

“The water may be seeping underground which can be disastrous in the future. We don’t want another Highland Towers incident.

“With no trees or vegetation holding the earth, we also fear the ravine will be affected and collapse as it is very close to the road.

“A soil erosion will be disastrous as there are more houses uphill and downhill,” she said.

MPAJ councillor D. Nallan said he was aware of the case.

“We asked for the silt and debris from the drains to be cleared but not to be dumped back on the land. There must have been a mistake.

“MPAJ has also given approval to use tarpaulin sheets and cover the exposed earth as a temporary measure to prevent soil erosion.

“We have also planned for a meeting with the residents tomorrow to brief them about our findings and find a permanent solution,” he said.

MPAJ press relations officer Norhayati Ahmad confirmed that the monsoon drains had been cleared to prevent flash floods from recurring.