Many areas in Kinta district are built on limestone and former mining land. Some are now facing soil settlement issues. — Filepic
Perak government through its agencies and local councils is taking proactive measures to address soil settlement issues in the Kinta district.
State infrastructure committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said actions taken included having a one-stop centre (OSC) system to approve applications for projects, conducting subsurface analysis of the land as well as undertaking mitigation measures in affected areas.
“According to the state Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), there are a few locations in Kinta district facing soil settlement issues, namely in Manjoi, Lahat and Kampar.
“These locations, which are former limestone and mining land that have been reclaimed for development, are facing soil settlement issues,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting in the state secretariat building.
Mohammad Nizar was responding to Wong Chai Yi (PH-Simpang Pulai) who asked about soil settlement in the Kinta district.
“We also have records that areas in Kampung Baru Ampang, Chemor and Taman Lapangan Raya also face similar issues.
“Ongoing monitoring is being conducted at affected areas from time to time,” Mohammad Nizar said.
“Through the OSC system, each development application will be reviewed by related agencies such as JMG.
“Besides that, the agencies will also provide technical assistance based on the report provided by the developers.
“For example, Ipoh City Council and Kampar District Council have made it compulsory for developers to conduct subsurface analysis or geophysics research before going ahead with any residential projects in their respective areas.
“Based on the research, suitable mitigation strategies can be drafted to reduce the risk of soil settlement,” he added.
The House also heard about plans to supply electricity to Orang Asli villages in Perak.
State rural development, plantation, agriculture and food industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said close to RM30mil had been allocated to supply power to 14 Orang Asli villages.
The allocation, he said, was given by Rural and Regional Development Ministry under its Rural Electricity Supply Project.
“From the total, RM14.3mil is allocated for 252 houses in Muallim district and the remaining RM15.34mil is for 180 houses in Batang Padang district.
“The project includes installation of high and low voltage lines to the existing grid line connection.
“TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd will be the implementing agency and installation will start in March 2024,” he said.
He added that the project was expected to be completed by April 2025.
Mohd Zolkafly was responding to a question from Salina Samsudin (BN-Behrang) about the allocation of clean water and electricity supply for the Orang Asli community in her constituency.
“Among the Batang Padang’s villages involved are Kampung Pos Musoh, Kampung Ulu Woh, Kampung Lubuk Gaharu and four Kampung Batu villages in Jalan Pahang namely Batu 20, Batu 23, Batu 24 and Batu 25.
“For Muallim, all of the villages are located in Pos Tenau, namely Kampung Bukit Ganggai, Kampung Piong, Kampung Tibang, Kampung Keding, Kampung Tenau, Kampung Pangkak and Kampung Sempoh,” he said.
Mohd Zolkafly added that for water supply, the ministry has allocated RM700,000 for seven Orang Asli villages.
“The villages are Kampung Orang Asli Gepai, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Teras, Kampung Orang Asli Senta, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Genting and Kampung Sungai Odak in Batang Padang district.
“The remaining two villages are located in Muallim district, namely Kampung Orang Asli Changkat Ramu and Kampung Orang Asli Panderas,” he said.
