Wednesday June 17, 2009

Residents wake up to the sight of huge cable towers

By LIM CHIA YING

HIGH-tension cable towers erected in the residential heart of Taman Desa and Taman Bukit Desa in Kuala Lumpur are the cause of the ire of residents.

Taman Desa High Tension Cable Action Committee co-chairman Walter Chew said their views on the project were never sought.

“There was no notification nor signboard at the project site informing the residents about the project.

“Since there is no signboard and no notification given to the residents, we doubt if any approval has been obtained from the relevant authorities,” he said.

Chew said after much pressure from the residents, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) finally agreed to meet them in early April.

Too close for comfort: A high tension cable tower has been erected in the residential heart of Taman Desa and Taman Bukit Desa.

“During the meeting, we were told that the high-tension cable towers would be carrying 275kV transmission lines, a 800% increase in voltage from the existing 33kV lines,” Chew said.

According to Chew, this is a significant increase in electricity transmission and a change in land use as the previous 33kV lines were of low voltage (33kV), described in the power industry as distribution lines used for supplying electricity to local districts.

He said the 275kV were described in the power industry as extra high voltage transmission lines used to carry heavy loads over long distances to supply townships and industry.

“During the meeting, we were informed that the new 275kV tranmission lines will be uninsulated and will supply electricity to the southern Klang Valley region, including industrial zones, commercial zones and town centre,” Chew said.

“How can we not protest against this transmission of extra high voltage electricity right through the heart of a densely populated neighbourhood, without any insulation?” he asked.

According to Chew’s co-chairman Eugene Lee, the action committee has the support of Taman Desa Residents Association (TDRA), which represents the 30,000 residents of Taman Desa and Taman Bukit Desa.

“A follow-up meeting was held at the site in mid-April attended by several TNB representatives, when we requested for the 275kV transmission lines to be either re-routed through non-residential areas or be installed using the underground cabling method with effective insulation,” Lee said.

He said, however, that despite their complaints and feedback, work continued at the site on June 8 with the installation of pulleys and cables.

Resident Doreen Choong said they were disappointed that TNB did not seek their views on the project and had gone on to ignore their pleas by proceeding with it.

Federal Territories MCA public complaints chairman Dr Jeffrey Goh, who is also a special officer to the Federal Territories Minister Raja Datuk Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, is acting as the principal liaison person to deal with the relevant authorities on the issue.

“I have conveyed the residents’ feedback to Raja Nong Chik and also Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

“So hopefully, a solution can be worked out for the benefit of the residents,” Goh said.

“I will keep the residents informed of any matter that arises,” he said.