The Star, Friday June 22, 2012

Half-buried septic tank

THE Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has issued a stop-work order for the installation of an underground septic tank in Taman Seri Kota, Sungai Chua, which was not being built according to specifications.

Residents and business owners have cried foul over a septic tank that was installed two weeks ago between two shoplots near the residential area.

They said part of the tank was above the ground because the contractors found a water table underground.

Wong Kee Choo, 48, whose shop is situated next to the septic tank, said he was approached by the developer a month ago to use the vacant land next to his shop.

Not right: Part of this septic tank is above ground after a stop-work order was issued on its installation.

 

“I signed the documents to allow them to place their machinery on the vacant land. I was also told that an underground septic tank will be built there. However, when the contractors were digging, they found water table underground and decided to not dig further. Hence, part of the septic tank is above the ground,” he said.

Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin and Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) planning department officers visited the site and issued an immediate stop-work order.

According to Lee, the septic tank was to be used by a budget hotel above the shoplot.

“There is a water table and peat soil 1.5m underground and the contractors were worried that any further digging would affect the foundation of the septic tank,” he said.

He added that the contractors also did not allocate 2.1m of buffer space for the septic tank.

“MPKj has approved the budget hotel’s building plans but the tank was supposed to be underground.

“The hotel owner has to submit an amended plan to MPKj and can only continue work if it is approved,” Lee explained.

Resident Kwan Fook Ho, 50, said the council should not have approved plans for a budget hotel.

“We are already facing parking problems because of the eateries here and with a budget hotel, the situation will be worse.

“I am worried that this will affect the property value here. There are about 60 houses in this area,” he added.

Lee said of the hundreds of budget hotels in the municipality, only eight were legal.

“Such hotels pose a safety risk as some do not have emergency exits in case of fire. There are still no clear guidelines for budget hotels and the local authorities are looking into this, he said.