LAND rezoning must be done before any assessment can be carried out on the incinerator project in Batu Arang, Selayang.
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) deputy president Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi said without rezoning the site from residential to heavy industrial use, necessary assessments on the traffic, social and environmental impact could not be carried out.
“We are still waiting for the rezoning and the area to be gazetted.
“The process may take up to a year as we need time to gather the site’s geological information.
“Once the area has been gazetted, we will analyse the comments and objections from experts and stakeholders,” he said during the MPS full board meeting yesterday.
He said the council was aware of opposition to the RM4.5bil project but procedures had to be followed.
StarMetro had reported about concerns raised by the Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator group.
They had urged the state government to reject the MPS Draft Local Plan 2030 that included the project.
On a separate matter, Adi Faizal said MPS would consider a proposal to turn Jalan Welman, Rawang into Selayang’s “Little India”.
The proposal was made by Zone 16 councillor Anmuniandy Vellymalai during the full board meeting, who said by creating a “unique identity”, it could attract more tourists to Selayang.
Adi Faizal said Jalan Welman has always been a trading hub for people of all races.
“The road is especially lively during festivals.
“During Deepavali, a majority of traders there are Indians and during Ramadan, the traders are Malays.
“Therefore, the needs of all races must be considered when studying the proposal to turn the road into Selayang’s Little India.
“For now, we will focus on maintaining cleanliness and beautifying the road with street art to make it more attractive,” he said.