State Public Utilities, Infrastructure, Energy and Water Committee Chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (in red) handing a souvenir to Devamany (second from left) during the briefing and coordination session of the Papan sewage treatment plant and sewerage pipe system project in Ipoh.
PROPERTY owners and residents whose homes have been damaged by the Papan 1 sewerage upgrading project will be compensated by the appointed contractor, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri SK Devamany.
He gave his assurance that the ministry is well aware of the complaints by residents who claimed that their homes were damaged by the construction works.
Devamany however said repair work can only be carried out after the project was fully completed.
“It is stated in the contract that the appointed contractor will repair any damage, including roads and public utilities other than residential properties, at their own cost.
“But, repair work will only be done after the project is completed because if repairs are carried out now, the properties could be damaged again from the ongoing construction,” he said in a press conference after attending a briefing about the sewerage project and coordination session at Kinta Riverfront Hotel and Suites last Thursday.
Devamany urged residents to be patient and said the area will benefit from a world-class sewerage system once all phases of the project are completed by 2021.
“We want to provide awareness and information to the people that when large-scale projects like this are carried out, problems like traffic congestion are bound to surface.
“But the government is spending billions for the people’s sake, so do not worry, it is only a temporary inconvenience,” he said, adding that around 1.5 million people in Kinta are expected to benefit from the upgraded sewerage system.
Reported in MetroPerak on March 3
Devamany was speaking in reference to the problem raised by residents in Taman Desa Aman, Ipoh, who are seeking compensation from the contractor working on a pumping station project in the housing area.
The residents say that their walls, floors, and concrete fencing cracked since the construction work started in 2015.
Ministry Sewerage Service Department Project Implementation Sector Senior Assistant Director Chan Sook Huei said the first round of repairs to the cracks in the homes of the 14 affected residents has been completed.
“Work has been carried out in some of the houses already. We are also in the process of negotiating with the other residents to come to an agreement.
“There are issues that arise, such as some residents feeling more comfortable employing their own contractor to do the job,” Chan said.
However, under the ministry’s agreement with contractor Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, all contractors appointed to carry out such remedial works must be licensed contractors under the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia, she added.
“As long as the residents are willing to hear us out and follow our recommendations, their interests are protected under Malaysian law,” she said.
Currently, the first phase of the sewerage project, which involves the building of sewerage pipes in Ipoh’s city centre, Gunung Rapat and Menglembu, is 62% complete.
The second phase – the building of a sewage treatment plant in Papan – is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year while the third phase will be a continuation of the first phase under which the pipes built in Gunung Rapat will be upgraded to accommodate the sewerage needs of around 500,000 residents.
All three phases are expected to be completed by 2021.
For problems related to the sewerage upgrading project, Mangkubumi can be contacted through its hotline 012-567 9533, or their Facebook and Twitter handle @Papan Pakej 1.
