PENANG has gone hi-tech to prevent huge trees from crashing down due to heavy rain and strong winds, which many here attributed to climate change.
State Local Government and Town Planning Committee chairperson Jason H'ng Mooi Lye said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) have adopted the Smart Tree Inventory System (LIDAR) though the approaches may differ due to different terrain and landscape.
He said this at the state legislative assembly sitting when debating next year's fiscal Budget.
H'ng represents the Pakatan Harapan (PH) - Barisan Nasional (BN) - led state unity government whereas the Opposition is led by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
LIDAR uses satellite technology to analyse the trees in public areas and also a 4D digital twin concept by constantly updating the council's database on the heath level of each huge tree trunk and its base.
The council will be alerted if the tree's health is frail and it is in danger of collapsing, especially due to strong winds, said H'ng (Jawi - PH).
Under the MBPP, the state has allocated RM1.1 million for LIDAR and the 4D digital twin-digitised programmes to help manage huge trees, namely on the island.
H'ng said this when replying to Joshua Woo Sze Zeng (PH - Pulau Tikus) about the condition of trees in public places.
He said that assessments were conducted on 12 major roads on the island here.
They are Jalan Residensi, Jalan York, Jalan Scotland, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Jalan Pangkor, Jalan Anson, Masjid Kapitan Keling, Lebuhraya Maktab, Jalan Batu Gantung, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Masjid Negeri and Jalan Midland.
As for MBSP, H'ng said tree maintenance was conducted on 21,291 trees throughout the Prai area, encompassing the Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Nibong Tebal districts.
The work was done from January until September this year.
MBSP also uses the visual tree assessment effort to determine the trees' health levels.
Besides that, there would be regular sprucing of the trees.
Penang has encountered many fallen trees due to extreme weather with one on private land crushing to death two China nationals - a father and daughter earlier this year.
According to H'ng, there were 27 cases of fallen trees this year where debris damaged 22 vehicles and five buildings under the MBPP, while under the MBSP, there were 13 cases involving 10 vehicles and three buildings.
Meanwhile, state housing and environment committee chairperson Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo (PH - Prai) said that the special housing scheme for youths and singles in the state is currently listed at phase one.
Once it is completed, it will benefit the young and singles in finding homes and in ensuring that they remain in Penang to work, contribute and share their talents.
Sundarajoo highlighted that the People’s Housing Programme (PPR), to be developed in Jelutong by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, will serve as the pioneer project for the special scheme.
“The process of appointing a contractor will commence once funding is secured. The PPR in Jelutong will comprise 500 units,” he said.
The size for young families and singles would be around 650 sq ft to 450 sq ft per unit.
He said this to a question from Lee Boon Heng (PH-Kebun Bunga).
Also, for applicants of the affordable housing scheme who have been rejected by banks three times, Sundarajoo confirmed that they would be eligible for the rent-to-own option under the state's public housing scheme. - The Vibes, November 27, 2024.
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