Khong (left) submitting the memorandum to the developers representative (right) as Yeh looks on.

NOISE pollution is only the tip of the iceberg for residents in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, ever since substructural works on a new development project kicked off last month.

About 100 affected residents gathered just outside the construction site recently to submit a memorandum with their demands to the developer.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) granted the developer permission for works to be carried out from 7am until 7pm every day except Sundays, but residents claimed these rules were not adhered to, resulting in them having to put up with noise pollution not just throughout the day but also at night and in the wee hours of the morning.

The worst affected were the residents from the condominiums nearest to the site, which are Tiara Faber, Desa 1 Residences and Desa 8.

Tiara Faber resident K.Y Khong said residents want DBKL to review the current working hours, taking into consideration of its proximity to residential properties nearby.

“We also learnt that there was an application to increase the working hours and we want DBKL to know that we object to it.

“The contractor should also take every measure needed to reduce the noise level which includes finding a more suitable piling method instead of the current noisy bore piles, which are suspected to be ill maintained due to the excessive noise it makes,” he said.

Residents also said that the roads surrounding the site was being damaged and there was a lack of safety measures.

“Heavy vehicles are moving in and out of the site. The narrow roads surrounding the site are showing signs of stress.

“There is also no traffic marshall to guide traffic and I am worried this situation will worsen, especially when more building materials are transported into the site as work progresses and the adjacent school reopens,” he said.

Another Tiara Faber resident, Valerie Low, said many residents have had their health affected.

“It is not only the noise, but the dust and fumes are also affecting our quality of life here.

“This mature township has a good mix of people of all ages, from senior citizens to couples with young children.

“Many are complaining that they feel miserable and unwell due to disrupted sleep and pollution.

“This is the holiday season but the people here are not going to enjoy their time at home,” she said, adding that DBKL should not have approved the development and the long working hours.

Save Taman Desa pro-tem committee chairman Frank Yeh said they were in the process of assessing the noise levels and will include it in the complaints to DBKL and other relevant authorities.

“We would like to reiterate that we are not against development but are only against unsustainable ones.

“There are 13 projects coming up in Taman Desa that are going to double the population in a couple of years but there is no proper plan to upgrade the infrastructure and utilities.

“We need to stand together and fight for our rights.

“Overdevelopment in any area is sure to turn it into a slum. So, we cannot be passive,” he said.

He urged residents to be alert of their surroundings and keep themselves informed via the Facebook page Protect Taman Desa From Over-Development.

In March, 11 residents filed a judicial review action against the mayor in Kuala Lumpur High Court to quash the planning permission given for the project on the grounds that proper procedures were not adhered to.