GEORGE TOWN – The Environment Department (DoE) should put a stop to development projects that do not adhere to their start dates as scheduled, said a Penang Forum member.
Khoo Salma Nasution said from what she understands, DoE is empowered to act against developers who are late in starting their projects, where action can be initiated under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for failure to commence the stipulated earthwork.
“We cannot allow such projects to be in a planning stage indefinitely. There must be a time relevance here,” she told The Vibes.
Take for example, she said, the proposed cross channel undersea tunnel that is supposed to be tied in with the construction of three highways that will link Gurney Drive and Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and another new route from Tg Bungah to Teluk Bahang.
“What has happened to the progress of the project?”
There is also a need to withdraw the EIA as circumstances have changed, she said, with delays in execution and the presence of a clear danger in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked about rumours that project delivery partner Consortium Zenith Construction Group Sdn Bhd had laid workers off, Khoo urged the state government to conduct its due diligence on the project as there are questions about the project’s viability in view of the threat from the pandemic and climate change.
It was reported that parts of the island’s coastline would be submerged due to the rising sea levels brought on by melting glaciers.
Explanations needed
When pointed out that ECK Construction Group has taken control of the Zenith company, Khoo said whoever takes control of the project needs to be responsible and, in this instance, clarify to the people why a retrenchment exercise needs to be initiated in the middle of a pandemic.
The 7.2km tunnel, which initially cost RM6.3 billion, had captured the imagination of the people here when it was first unveiled by the state in 2012, with a designated route from Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth.
It was to complement the existing two bridges, which link Seberang Jaya and Batu Kawan on the mainland, respectively, to the island.
Packaged together with the mammoth project are the three highways, which aim to disperse traffic.
They are from Air Itam to the expressway (5.7km); Tg Bungah to Teluk Bahang (10.53km); and Gurney Drive to the same expressway (4.1km).
State DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab could not be reached for comment. – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
