Tan: It has been standard practice for all development projects to conduct geotechnical surveys.
THE Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association (KLRA+SD) has welcomed mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif’s reminder on geotechnical reports for all Kuala Lumpur developments.
The association is also pushing for an additional requirement: comprehensive geotechnical surveys that go beyond the development area.
KLRA+SD chairman Tan Booi Charn said it would be beneficial for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to introduce a new requirement for developers to conduct a comprehensive geotechnical survey beyond the development area.
“The scope of work should include utility piping connections, such as water and sewer pipes, from the proposed building to existing utilities outside the development area,” she said, stressing that infrastructure projects such as MRT, LRT and roads should also be covered.
“If the proposed development site has sensitive soil conditions, like limestone, special attention must be given to supporting mechanisms, including utility connecting pipes to prevent damage caused by soil subsidence,” she added.
KLRA+SD, a non-profit group which includes residents’ associations, other non-profits and higher education institutions, also stressed that these reports should be reviewed and verified by accredited engineers.
“It has been standard practice for all development projects to conduct geotechnical surveys, as these are crucial for foundation design,” said Tan.
The group also urged DBKL to initiate utility mapping and audits of existing utilities in Kuala Lumpur and to call on utility companies, such as Air Selangor, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), to collaborate and produce a coordinated underground utility map.
“A comprehensive mapping of all underground utilities is essential for the design, maintenance, and monitoring of these systems to prevent dangerous occurrences such as sinkholes and similar hazards,” Tan said.
Following the tragic Aug 23 incident, in which a female tourist from India was swallowed by an eight-metre-deep sinkhole while walking in Masjid India, Maimunah said all projects – whether they involve housing, roads or are situated near flood retention ponds – must include a geotechnical report, also known as a soil investigation report.
