Kuala lumpur: The Selangor state government has extended until August the deadline for nursery operators along Jalan Sungai Buloh to vacate the site, prior to the commencement of the Kwasa Damansara elevated road widening project in September. State Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said the decision was made following appeals from the operators, as well as the need to provide a more reasonable transition period before the project is implemented.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a notice to vacate the site was initially issued to the operators on April 18, 2019, with the implementation of the KWASA Damansara elevated road construction project beginning on January 1, 2020. This project is part of efforts to strengthen the state's infrastructure network, with a final notice issued in December 2021. Datuk Izham Hashim emphasized that maintaining operations at the current site is not an option as the area will be developed. However, the state government has shown flexibility by extending the deadline until August.
He revealed that a total of 38 operators involving 66 plots were affected, with some operators holding more than one lot. The State Executive Council meeting (MMKN) in 2021 had previously agreed to relocate the operators to an alternative site in Bukit Changgang, Kuala Langat, but a detailed assessment found the site unsuitable for nursery development due to flood-prone soil conditions. Improvement costs were estimated at RM10 million, leading to the refund of deposits to the operators for the proposed relocation.
In a pragmatic approach, the state government is providing an ex gratia payment of RM10,000 per plot to assist the affected operators. A total of RM660,000 has been allocated for this purpose, with payments for 14 lots yet to be claimed.
On the issue of flooding, Izham stated that the problem is expected to be resolved within four years through the Selangor Flood Mitigation Project, which is currently underway. River-deepening works are ongoing but will require time to complete. Selangor has adopted modern water management technologies from the Netherlands, China, and Germany, but their effectiveness is challenged by high rainfall and rapid urban development.
The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has urged the state government to prioritize efforts to resolve flood issues through comprehensive planning and more effective and immediate action.