JOHOR BARU: RESIDENTS living near a concrete batching plant in Jalan Merak, Larkin Jaya here are having sleepless nights because of the noise from the plant.
They claim they have been experiencing lack of sleep for four months as works from the construction site are carried out until the wee hours.
Abdullah Yusof, 55, a resident, said besides having to deal with the loud noise, some residents had breathing difficulties because of the dust and fumes from the machines at the site.
“Complaints have been lodged to the authorities but the developer is still carrying out works.”
Another resident, Hasnah Mohamed, 60, said she had to sweep her house several times a day as the floors were covered with the dust and sand.
“The road is dusty and the drain outside my house has clogged up because of the amount of sand.”
Hasnah’s schoolgoing children were having problems concentrating on their studies because of the noise.
The developer, Cemerlang Land Sdn Bhd, said they were willing to talk to the residents.
Project manager Azman Masri said the developer was aware of the residents’ complaints and hoped to find an amicable solution.
“However, we have to stress that the idea for the concrete batching plant was suggested by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) so as to avoid having lorries plying in and out of narrow roads that lead to the construction site,” he said.
MBJB councillor for Larkin Hamid Halidek said he was aware of the residents’ situation and had raised the matter during the council’s monthly committee meetings.
“I have raised the issue since July and the Department of Environment is reviewing it. I have yet to receive feedback from them on the issue as they informed me that a notice had been sent to the developer.”
Hamid said he would voice the issue in the council meeting next month and would propose a stopwork order on the project as the developer had carried out construction works beyond the permitted operating hours.