PETALING JAYA: Restoration works for homes damaged in the Putra Heights pipeline explosion earlier this year are ahead of schedule, according to transcripts from a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication report.
For restoration works carried out at Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, Housing and Local Government Ministry official T. Gangeswari said the progress is currently at 65% compared to the scheduled 56%.
The progress rate for affected homes in Taman Putra Harmoni meanwhile are at 10.22%, ahead of the scheduled 2.44%.
“Repairs at Taman Putra Harmoni will take time due to the number of homes involved. In terms of a time frame, two-years have been given for the repair works to be completed,” said the Ministry’s Strategic and International Planning Division deputy secretary according to the Hansard of the proceedings.
The proceedings were held on Aug 8.
In the same meeting, PSSC chairman Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis), however, said the two-year period accorded for repair works was still too long.
“If possible, please speed it up as the residents are suffering and facing difficulties,” he said.
To this, Gangeswari said this will be relayed to the top management.
Earlier during the same meeting, PETRONAS Gas Berhad chief executive officer Abdul Aziz Othman said PETRONAS had contributed RM25mil for house restoration works for affected homes in Putra Heights, as of June 4.
“We have been made to understand that the home restoration will be managed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry. Here, I want to take the opportunity to appeal for the ministry to expedite this.
“We are also still on site conducting repairs, and there are residents asking us to speed up restoration efforts,” he said, according to Hansard.
The pipeline explosion on April 1 this year resulted in 511 homes being damaged, with hundreds of residents also displaced.
Fires from the explosion exceeded 1,000 degrees celsius with the flames rising more than 30 metres into the air.
