‘SOIL MOVEMENT DELAYS WATER PIPE REPAIR’
Risky to continue work as site unsafe, water supply restoration prolonged, says Air Selangor
THERE were several incidents of soil movement when Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) carried out repairs on pipes damaged by the collapsed portion of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) from May 4 to 7.
This startling disclosure was made by Air Selangor Customer Relationship and Communications Department head Abdul Raof Ahmad.
He said this was why restoration of water supply, initially promised to be done within 24 hours of repairs, was still a work in progress.
“We’d like to inform the public that there were a number of incidents of soil movement during the repairs and this contributed to the delay in work.
“Based on conditions and situations on the site, we found that it would be a risk to continue repairs,
which would most likely cause untoward incidents if work was pursued at the same locations.”
He said this, coupled with the fact that the restoration of water supply was followed by leaks in other locations along the pipes, forced them to shut down the main system.
Raof, however, said water supply in 86 per cent of the 65 areas affected had been restored as at 6pm yesterday.
Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) director-general Datuk Aziz Abdullah said he did not discount the possibility of a diversion along the route, but stressed that it would depend on the findings of the report on the collapse.
He said the report would be prepared by GCU Consultants Sdn Bhd, which had been appointed by WCE, and should be completed by next week.
“Whether the route will be diverted, rerouted or bypassed will depend on the result of the investigation. The consultant will decide on the methodology and design of the structural repairs in three to four weeks’ time,” he told the New Straits Times.
This would mean repair work could only commence then.
Asked whether this would affect the opening of the expressway, Aziz said WCE contractors would “work harder” to achieve the target.
He said this did not affect four interchanges — three in Perak and one in Selangor — that were scheduled to be opened first.
On Wednesday, Aziz said the interchanges might not be opened in time for Hari Raya Aidilfitri as some work had to be done on affected stretches to ensure they were safe for motorists.
Geologist Dr Azhar Hussein said he hoped the report by the consultants would be made public so that experts could go through it.
“By right, if there was soil movement or a risk of it, it means that the Environmental Impact Assessment should have pointed this out. The area is also in a valley, so it’s important that the operator and authorities address these questions.”
Azhar said it was crucial that Mineral and Geoscience Department geologists assessed such projects from its proposal stage to its completion.