THE Selangor government is returning to its original plan to relocate Sungai Buloh nursery and landscaping operators to Bukit Changgang in Banting, as no other suitable sites are available.
Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said the state remained ready to engage with operators keen on developing the Banting site.
"We have looked for a place but there just isn't a suitable place available.
"Some available plots are too secluded and far from main roads, making it impractical for nursery operations.
"Bukit Changgang is a good site and we are prepared to provide it but operators moving to Bukit Changgang will have to bear the infrastructure development costs," he said during a press conference held at Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.
The relocation to Bukit Changgang offer was originally extended to operators in 2022 but later withdrawn because the low-lying site was prone to flooding.
"It would cost RM10mil to upgrade the land.
"As such, Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation refunded deposits to the operators on April 14 this year except for those occupying four plots of land due to a technical issue," Izham said.
In a move to ease the transition, he added that the state government had extended the eviction deadline to the end of August.
"The relocation is to make way for the roadworks expected to start in September.
"We listened to their plight and gave them leeway in moving," he said.
On March 16 this year, operators trading on 66 lots received notices from the Petaling District and Land Office requiring them to vacate within 30 days to make way for an elevated road linked to the Kwasa Damansara development.
While the state offered a one-off RM10,000 ex-gratia payment to help with the move, 14 out of 54 affected operators refused to accept it.
