Developer: Give us six months

PETALING JAYA: The developer of the Damansara 21 hillside project in Medan Damansara needs six more months to complete soil stabilisation works to guarantee the safety of the hill.

Selangor Dredging Bhd (SDB) managing director Teh Lip Kim said it was imperative that work to stabilise and strengthen the slope continue.

“We have spent about RM30mil so far to strengthen the slope because we want to make sure the houses and the surrounding areas are safe,” she added.

Teh explained that the stabilising works included placing 282 pilings along the back of the hill without using machines. Anchors were also driven into the base of the hill.

Group general manager Loong Ching Hong said the portion of the slope between the middle and top of the hill would be removed and the 21 bungalows built on flat ground.

“The bungalows will effectively be built on terraces,” he said, adding that SDB would never compromise on the safety or lives of housebuyers or those in neighbouring areas.

SDB had acquired the land, which came with a development order, from MAA in 2005.

Loong said it was the terrace design, which received support from 16 government agencies, that led to SDB’s amended development order being approved.

On the stop-work order and RM100,000 fine slapped on SDB in April, Loong said the stop-work order, which actually had delayed soil stabilisation works, was lifted in October.

Loong said the plan then was to continue soil stabilisation works at the base of the hill. He added that SDB had received verbal agreement from City Hall to use the access road that cuts through the residential area so that the work could be sped up.

“However, when the residents complained, we were slapped with the stop-work order and fine, with the authorities saying that we had no permission to use the access road.”

Loong said this meant they could no longer touch the site, and what they had feared most – a landslip – occurred.

Teh said SDB had not even launched the Damansara 21 project and yet was spending money to make the hill safe.

By The Star