SIBU, May 4: Housing developers here have been given a three-month period to follow standard operating procedure (SOP) with regards to ensuring a cleaner environment in areas where their projects are located.
This comes following numerous complaints from residents who have been affected by dust and mud on roads in areas where their projects are taking place.
“This is very unfair for the affected residents. I have been receiving complaints from the people almost every day.
“They do not dare to dry their clothes outside their house. They also do not want to let their children play outside due to this pollution,” said Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng after chairing a meeting to find a solution to this pollution problem yesterday.
Among those attending the meeting were representatives from Sibu Municipal Council, Sibu Rural District Council, Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda).
According to Chieng, those staying in big housing estates such as at Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah and Jalan Bukit Penyau have suffered from this pollution for up to 10 years as housing projects are ongoing.
“During the meeting, we agreed to enforce an SOP for the developers to follow. They will have to set up a wash bay to wash their lorries clean of sand and soil so that they won’t be spilled onto the road. They will also have to tar-seal feeder roads at the construction site that connects to the main road,” he said.
Chieng believed that adhering to the SOP would resolve the pollution problem at housing estates.
The developers will also be provided with information on how to fulfil this SOP.
After the three-month period, enforcement will be jointly carried out by SMC, SRDC, NREB and CIDB.
Chieng pointed out this SOP is not something new as similar ones have been enforced in West Malaysia and Kuching. — DayakDaily
