 FLIES and foul stench are nothing new to residents of Sri Indah Flats and Taman Desaminium in Seri Kembangan.
However, they are wondering how long the situation will persist and when will Air Hitam landfill, the cause of their problems, cease to operate.
The landfill was scheduled to close in June but a leachate spillage incident at Sungai Kembong, Semenyih, in April prompted waste from the Kajang and Selayang municipalities to be sent to Air Hitam
The towering mountain of refuse behind Sri Indah
Flats is an appalling sight, and its residents are greeted with this
stomach-churning view each time they open their windows.
One resident pointed out the non-existence of a buffer zone between the
flats and the landfill, questioning why such a thing was allowed.
“Friends and relatives feel we are inhospitable because we never have
them over. We meet elsewhere for lunch or dinner because having them
over for a visit would mean exposing them to the stench and flies. It
is embarrassing,” said a housewife who only wanted to be known as Ina.
“Organising community programmes is a no-no because who can stand the
smell? We can’t even go for a jog or enjoy a leisurely walk in the
evenings because the stench is always there,” she complained.
The situation might be bearable during the dry spell, but during rainy
season the stench is carried as far as Taman Lestari Perdana, Equine
Park and Puncak Jalil.
Residents of Taman Desaminium, the cluster of condominiums neighbouring
Sri Indah Flats, bought their properties in 2002 under the assumption
that the landfill would close in 2003.
Taman Desaminium Residents Association chairman Adzly Ab Manas said the
landfill was affecting the quality of life in the area, forcing
residents to stay indoors and preventing them from enjoying healthy
activities outdoors.
“There is a green lung near our condominium blocks, but we can’t even
leave our windows open to enjoy the cool air or a nice breeze. The
stench from the landfill is all we get so we stay indoors as soon as we
return from work.
“Our children are constantly sick and the recent haze also brought on asthma attacks.
“We can’t live elsewhere because most of us have poured our life
savings into the homes,” he said, adding that an illegal cement factory
was also operating in the area.
Adzly urged the state authorities not to keep residents in the dark by not announcing when the landfill will be closed.
He also stressed on monitoring methods following the closure to prevent incidences of methane gas build-ups.
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