Massive tree felling at site of former Lady Templer Hospital - The Star

April 28, 2008 By YIP YOKE TENG

IT WOULD have been further damage to the environment, if the folks of Taman Midah, Cheras, had not intervened and voiced their objection at the massive tree felling at the former site of the Lady Templer Hospital.

All but one block of the hospital covering over 20.2 ha (50 acres) had been demolished to make way for a RM340mil rehabilitation hospital, a project under the Health Ministry.

The building had been abandoned for more than 15 years; only a small section was used for the Cheras Health Clinic.

Work at the site comprising earth works and tree felling started about three months ago and with the increasing damage to the green lung surrounding the area, the residents became worried.

However, their worry turned into shock when Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai discovered that the contractor of the project didn’t even have a Development Order to begin with.

This was also confirmed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officials from the Public Works Department and Landscape Department, who visited the site with Tan, residents and representatives from the contractor recently.

Tan said that he welcomed such a project in the neighbourhood, since it served a good purpose, but he added that the contractor should not have started the work without prior approval from DBKL.

He said the contractor must obtain a development order prior to doing any site work so that the relevant departments could monitor to ensure every aspect of the project was safe.

“You have nearly 50,000 people living in Taman Midah and without proper monitoring, this project might affect the residents with negative repercussions on the environment such as flooding, soil erosion and others,” he said.

According to the contractor no development was being carried out on the site, just earth works to build a silt trap.

Tan was not convinced and said he would seek immediate stop-work order from the City Hall.