RESIDENTS living in Fortuna Court Condominium at Jalan Awan Cina, Taman OUG, are worried about soil erosion behind their houses. 

This is because a development project is being carried out and the slopes have been left exposed since work started. 

The residents have sought help from YBR Management Services Sdn Bhd. 

Through YBR Management, condo residents had written to the developer of the project, One OUG Land Sdn Bhd, requesting them to construct a retaining wall before proceeding with the development. 

Soil erosion at the development site behind Fortuna Court Condominium in Taman OUG.

“They have started building a gabion wall at OG Heights, the property next to Fortuna Court, but we need one as well as erosion has already started and it’s just a matter of time before the situation gets worse,” said Fortuna Court building manager Teh Ong Chai. 

Teh said his management company had written several letters to the developer and City Hall’s Public Works Department highlighting their fears. 

“However, we have not received any response from the developer on the matter and we are worried on behalf of our residents who have placed their trust in us. 

“We only hope that the authorities don’t wait for a tragedy to occur before something is done,” he said. 

Concerned over the situation, YBR Management decided to engage their own engineers from Zaidun-Leeng Sdn Bhd to assess the situation. 

“During a site visit to the slope between the condo and the neighbouring development, our engineers made several observations on the project,” Teh said. 

“Some of the points made were that earthwork from the neigh-bouring development are ongoing and this has resulted in exposed slopes.” 

According to Teh, the report stated that there is no proper drainage at the construction site and this can result in surface water flowing to the adjacent lots and at the lower level and may cause erosion and affect the stability of the slopes. 

Teh...‘we need a wall as erosion has already started’

The existing drains on top of the slope were full of silt. 

“Our engineers made several recommendations that includes the developers setting up monitoring stations on the slope at Fortuna Court Condominium and to take regular readings to detect any possible movements on the slope that may occur as a resultof the on-going construction works. 

“We would like to ask the developer to construct and maintain an effective drain system within their site to avoid seepage or water overflowing into the slope. 

Teh said that existing drains along the Fortuna Court boundary fence with silt should be cleaned up and repaired to ensure proper function of all discharge. 

The developers are constructing eight units of three storey semi-detached houses behind Fortuna Court Condominium. 

When contacted, the develo- pers of the project said they would be mobilising their team to build a retention wall as soon as possible. 

A spokesman from the company who only wished to be identified as Sum said the delay in constructing the wall was due to the fact that they were conducting soil investigation on the site. 

“This is a requirement from City Hall and it took us about three weeks to get this done and submit our findings. Now we will start work on the retention wall along OG Heights and Fortuna Court condominiums,” he said.