Work in progress: Recovery efforts taking place near the houses affected by the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya. — ART CHEN/The Star
BANTING: The Selangor government has channelled three months of house rental assistance to more than 150 families affected by the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
State Housing and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah said RM2,000 a month in house rental aid was provided by the Selangor Housing and Property Board.
He said the aid is transferred to the bank accounts of the household heads concerned.
“The instruction by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is to ensure the money, amounting to RM6,000 for three months’ rental, is deposited directly into the victims’ accounts,” he said after a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Kampung Sungai Buaya Modern Crematorium Project, Kuala Langat here, yesterday, Bernama reported.
Previously, Amirudin was reported to have said that 396 household heads affected by the Putra Heights fire were eligible to receive house rental aid of RM2,000 a month for six months.
In a related development, Borhan said the state government was looking into the form of assistance to be given for the reconstruction of houses damaged in the fire.
“The matter is still being discussed with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and related agencies,” he said.
The fire, which broke out on April 1, resulted in 81 houses being destroyed with more than 40% structural damage, 81 houses categorised as partially destroyed, 57 houses affected but not burned, and 218 houses not affected.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Selangor Investment, Trade and Mobility Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the construction of the modern crematorium, to begin at the end of the year, is expected to cost about RM5mil and will take 18 months to complete.
It will be built on a 0.404ha site and will be equipped with three cremation units built using modern technology that emphasises operational efficiency, user safety and environmental preservation, he added.
