TWNS Will be 6 Years Old this 25 January!

Come 25 January, Taman Warisan Negeri Selangor (TWNS)  will be celebrating it's 6th birthday.

Over 85,000 ha of largely contiguous forest along the eastern border of Selangor, was gazetted by the Selangor state government as a 'state park' on 25 Jan 2007. The remaining areas were gazetted after 2010.

The Park, stretching from Hulu Selangor at the northern tip of Selangor State, through Gombak, down to Hulu Langat in the south, is one of the few sizeable, multi-use forested areas in close proximity to a major urban centre in the world.

During the weekends, the Park is a hub of activity as thousands of visitors flock to the popular recreational spots to enjoy various activities including swimming in the many rivers that bisect the Park, trekking, bird watching, cycling and photography.

In conjunction with the Park’s 6th birthday, join us as we take a trip down memory lane...how the Park was established and why it is so important to us all. We would love to hear some of your stories on the Park, too.

Same Old Story

'In the aftermath of the shocking wall collapse in the posh Bukit Setiawangsa ... DBKL will go in search of all such structures to draw up a hazard map.'  ...Was it really that shocking the wall collapsed - it was so steep and massive!  This should remind us of the June 2011 tragedy in Hulu Langat, and the on going concern of residents across the country.

I pulled out a few highlights from our earlier blog entry, after the June 2011 tragedy. 

http://selangorstatepark.blogspot.com/2011/06/steep-terrain-of-park-must-be-taken.html

From information gathered in the newspapers an estimated 58 housing estates in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor situated in hilly areas face the risk of landslides, based on a Public Works Department (PWD) study last year, in 2010. 

According to the papers, the study shows that all 58 housing estates are situated within four local council areas, namely Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

The highest number of areas at risk, 39, are listed under MPAJ.  Among the areas sited as highest risk include Bukit Antarabangsa, Taman Melawati, Kampung Pasir, Taman Wangsa Ukay, Ukay Heights, Ukay Perdana, Kampung Tengah, Taman Keramat and Sering Ukay.

Based on the disappointing outcome of the Highland Tower court case, it was re-affirmed, in court, that the local councils cannot be held liable for any tragedy that may result from the council’s approvals of any development.

  

What has happened to these high risk areas identified back in 2010, and where are they exactly? Will the new studies to be drawn up by the government utilize these existing studies and information?  Why do we keep conducting studies to find a solution only after another crisis has taken place?

It is no wonder residents are against developments such as the KL Outer Ring Road and other hill slope developments, especially those that are ‘up-slope’ of existing homes and neighborhoods.

It is unfair to keep telling us that current technology is safe, when ‘current technology’ that was used 10 years ago is now declared to be unsafe, at the fault of no one. What real changes are being made to rectify these persistent problems, to ensure the safety of the community and the environment?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

Happy New Year to everyone!