BY PRIYA MENONKATHLEEN MICHAEL
Clean-up effort: MBSA recently cemented and installed lights at the back lane of Jalan Bersepadu b25/b in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam
MOUNDS of rubbish in the back alleys of commercial areas in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, is a common sight.
Crows peck away at litter scattered near the drains or in torn garbage bags. There is also the awful sight of rats running in and out of the shops.
Behind steel grilles of shop units are yet more bags of uncollected rubbish that have been left behind for months or maybe years as can be seen along Jalan Ria 25/62.
Similar sights also exist in alleys along Jalan Bersatu 25/9, Jalan Sepadu C 25/C, Jalan Kukuh 25/42 and Jalan Faedah 25/86.
Mogan said the alley behind the row of shops off Jalan Mewah 25/63 was the worst, with remnants of garbage left behind on the road.
MBSA is responsible for the daily clean-up of back lanes and weekly clearing of clogged drains. Contractors are hired to desludge oil and grease using water jets. — Photos: PRIYA MENON and KATHLEEN MICHAEL /The Star
“Although the garbage is collected regularly, you still have bits and pieces lying on the road. To make it worse, people throw garbage out the windows of higher floors,” he added.
Mogan said that while people kept their own houses clean, they do not care much for the environment or their neighbours.
He has caught residents illegally dumping garbage at open areas in the neighbourhood.
He said foreigners living in the township did not care much for the area they live in either.
“The commercial centre in Sri Muda is the dirtiest area in our development,” he declared.
Walkways, he added, were full of betel leaf juice while restaurants run by the foreigners leave a trail of dirt in the back alleys as well.
Some were even spotted cooking at these dirty alleys and beside drains, especially at night.
Back lanes with rubbish scattered everywhere is a common sight in the Taman Sri Muda commercial areas.
“It is a health concern for everyone, as poor hygiene in the area will cause infectious diseases to spread.”
He said a massive clean-up must be carried out to change the image of Taman Sri Muda, as garbage that clog drains was a contributing factor in the floods that had gripped the township for over 20 years.
Each time it rains heavily, residents rush back home to quickly salvage their belongings.
Some have built barricades to prevent water from getting into their houses but the main roads are beyond their means.
Resident S.V. Lingam said most of the street junctions were quick to flood, including Jalan 25/43 and Jalan 25/36.
“This township is lower than the river and the drains are too small to cope with the sudden increase of water volume,” he added.
Rubbish at a shoplot has been left uncollected for months, maybe years, in Jalan Ria 25/62.A check by StarMetro found the drains were all clogged up and filled with garbage and stagnant water.
A check by StarMetro found the drains were all clogged up and filled with garbage and stagnant water.
During our site visit, it had not rained for two days and yet the monsoon drain as well as the feeder drains were filled to the brim with water.
Some of the drains near the commercial areas were broken and the drains were also littered with food waste from nearby restaurants.
Another issue that has residents up in arms is the steadily growing number of illegal renovations.
Some residents have had to endure long-term hacking and drilling from neighbours conducting illegal extensions.
Over in Jalan Tegap 25/98, residents complain that one of the houseowners is extending his property to include a third storey.
A resident who only wanted to be known as Chan said complaints had been filed at Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) but the problem persisted.
“The council issued a stop-work order but the owner did not comply. MBSA officers inspected the site and said no approval was given for the renovation.”
Broken drains filled with rubbish make things worse during flash floods.
“Why has the council not taken stricter action,” the frustrated resident questioned.
Subba Rao, who lives behind the house under renovation, said work had been going on since he moved in two years ago.
He said the hut built on the third floor used plastic sheets and wood and there are times during strong winds when he had heard wood falling onto his roof.
Rao said that he also noticed many foreigners living in the house in extended rooms on each floor.
“This is a fire hazard and people’s lives are at stake.”
He tried speaking to the houseowner but there was no response.
MBSA declined to comment on the matter.
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