As reported in The Star Online, restless nights are afoot for residents at Taman Desa Karunmas, Balakong, due to incomplete slope reinforcement work in the surrounding areas.

Most of the surface on the slope reinforcement work in Taman Desa Karunmas is bare, causing sand erosion and dust problems.

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said the residents had been complaining about sand erosion and dust from Lot 1758 and Lot 6504, which underwent slope reinforcement works in November last year.

“The project costing RM1.53mil was given through an open tender and was completed in June. However, the contractors failed to grow the grass on the slope, causing the sand to erode and clog the drain below.

"Sand dust had also been blown into the houses. The worst affected were the houses along Jalan Karunmas 7, which are directly in front of the site. I was told the contractor tried to grow grass using the hydroseeding method but failed,” he said during a site visit with residents on Aug 31.

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) councillor Thiagarajah Rajagopal, who was also present, said the council would withold payment until the contractor completed the job successfully.

“We will ask the contractor to clear the sand clogging the drains by next week and get them to grow grass on the site soon,” he said.

Resident S. Mukunan, 37, said he had been clearing the sand collected behind his house to allow water to flow into the drain.

“I am worried about stagnant water becoming a mosquito breeding ground,” he said.

Another resident Simon Koh, 46, said knowing the condition of the drain, he was always worried that it might overflow and result in flash floods.

Meanwhile, Haw Siew Kee, 54, said the dust from the site was unbearable, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

“I babysit children and need to keep my house very clean all the time. I mop the floor every day but the dust still gets onto the surfaces in my house.

“I hope the problem can be solved as soon as possible,” she said.