GEORGE TOWN – The contractor for the Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass road project has relocated its mobile rock crusher following complaints from residents in nearby Taman Island Glades over dust pollution from the project site.
The Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) said the project’s contractors have “promptly relocated” the machine to a site adjacent to a cluster of large trees, which acts as a natural barrier against airborne dust.
PIC also said that several other measures were undertaken to mitigate dust pollution, such as increasing the frequency of water spraying to at least four times per day, utilising machinery capable of spraying a higher volume of water, and deploying full-time workers in critical areas for manual water sprinkling.
Dust curtains have also been installed to minimise airborne dust dispersion, PIC said in a statement today.
The contractor undertook the measures following media reports on the woes of Taman Island Glades residents who said that the dust pollution had affected their health and caused them to suffer allergies, flu symptoms and coughing.
Disgruntled residents held a protest on Monday evening where they called for swift action by the contractor, relevant authorities and state government to resolve the pollution problem.
They have also complained about the uncovered slopes at the project sites which would become vulnerable to landslides during the wet season.
Responding to the matter raised, PIC said that slope protection works can only be carried out in areas not undergoing construction.
“For slopes that have reached platform level, permanent protection measures such as soil nailing, guniting, hydroseeding, and close turfing have been executed,” added PIC. – August 7, 2024