GEORGE TOWN – Residents of Taman Island Glades in Seri Delima lament the construction activities on the nearby hill slopes for the Air Itam–Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass road project are causing significant dust pollution, as this has significantly impacted their health and quality of life.
Protesters at Karpal Singh Neighbourhood Park have shared that they have been suffering from allergies, flu and coughs due to dust from the construction sites that has been blowing into their homes since the work began three years ago.
Among the residents is 77-year-old retiree A. Ramachandran, who said he has been struggling with a cough in recent months.
“This is something I’ve never experienced before, as I don’t drink or smoke,” he told Scoop.
Throughout the protest, the residents also shared how the exterior and interior parts of their houses are filled with dust, forcing them to clean their houses up to three times per day. They also shared that clothes left to dry outside and newly washed cars would accumulate dust.
Another resident, Taram Singh, who has been living in Taman Island Glades for 36 years, said that rock-crushing works done at the project site are the “biggest contributor” to the dust pollution problem.
He also said that during a dialogue last Monday, he and other concerned residents asked the contractor, Consortium Zenith Corporation (CZC) Sdn Bhd, if the rock crushers could be relocated.
“The contractor said no. What are we supposed to do about it since this is not our problem?”
“This is their problem. I don’t know how they’ve managed all these years,” he said during the protest.
Taram emphasised that the protesting residents are not against development but are simply seeking a better quality of life.
“We just want clean air to breathe. That’s all we are asking for!”
Meanwhile, some protesting residents said that contractors would be mobilising water lorries to wash the dirt off the streets in the neighbourhood, but these efforts have proven inadequate as dust pollution worsens.
Angry residents have lodged online complaints with the Environment Department about the pollution issue.
In addition to the dust pollution, residents have also complained about the collapse of a section of the cement retaining wall at the site, raising concerns about whether adequate soil stabilisation measures were taken, given the discovery of underwater streams at the location.
Collapsed cement wall
Sixty-three-year-old GH Khoo, a resident of the area, has criticised the state government for its handling of dust pollution, arguing that it contradicts the Penang2030 vision of making Penang a green, family-centric state.
“Let me ask everyone here: is this the kind of Penang we want? Absolutely not!
“This is not the type of development we desire. Is this the future we want to leave for our next generation?” Khoo said in an emotional speech.
Khoo also presented several demands to the state government and contractors: relocate the crushing machines to another site, cover slopes with tarpaulin sheets wherever possible, and engage independent engineering consultants to conduct integrity and stability tests on the cleared slopes.
Additionally, she called for strict pollution monitoring by the Environment Department, Penang Infrastructure Corp and Penang Island City Council. She also requested the release of official reports on dust emissions and a statement on the stability of slopes in light of the recent retaining wall collapse.
No show by elected rep, contractor
Throughout the protest, Taram, Khoo and other residents voiced their disappointment at Seri Delima assemblywoman Connie Tan for her absence.
However, Tan told Scoop that she could not join the protest due to a pre-planned meeting in the evening with the Penang Chinese Chambers of Commerce.
The junior assemblywoman said that she stands with the affected residents and has pledged to compel CZC to do everything possible to address the pollution problem.
Tan said she facilitated a dialogue session with the residents and CZC last Monday, during which she requested the contractor to send a proposal outlining “a holistic approach” to tackle the pollution issues raised. She also said that she would be meeting with the company tomorrow.
“I have also reported to (state infrastructure executive councillor) Zairil (Khir Johari), and he has also instructed CZC to try every single way to minimise the impact (of the pollution) on the residents.
“I respect and care for my residents and will always work closely with them. I have on several occasions voiced out against the contractor, and I will not hesitate to do so should they fail to comply and take necessary action,” she added.
Meanwhile, CZC told Scoop that it would be preparing a report on the issues raised by the residents to be submitted to the state government. – August 6, 2024