Broga killed by high cost, not public protest
Yoges PalaniappanPublished: Nov 1, 2007 3:19 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The government has stressed that the incinerator project in Broga was scrapped due to its high cost, and not because of public outcry.
The government says it had to cancel the project after taking into consideration its maintenance and operation costs.
The government has stressed that the incinerator project in Broga was scrapped due to its high cost, and not because of public outcry.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Azizah Mohd Dun said that the government had to cancel the project after taking into consideration its maintenance and operation costs.
"The only reason why we had to call it off is the cost - and only because of the cost," stressed Azizah, adding that the cancellation was also not caused by the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.
Azizah (BN-Beaufort) was replying to a query from Abdul Fatah Harun (PAS-Rantau Panjang) who asked the ministry to state whether the government was aware that the cancellation of the incinerator project was due to its hasty decision without taking into account the EIA report and the opposition from the local community.
Azizah explained that the incinerator project, when its implementation was authorised by the government, has complied with all the requirements of the EIA reports.
"The cancellation, as announced by the deputy prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) as the solid waste and environmental management committee head is due to its cost. So it is untrue to say that the project was cancelled because of the EIA reports and public protests," said Azizah.
The RM1.5 billion incinerator project was called off by the government in July citing high cost as the reason for the cancellation.
The project was also opposed by the residents on the grounds that it posed a serious threat to their health, the environment and their livelihood.
Cheaper technologies
Not denying the possibilities of another incinerator project, Azizah said that her ministry has formed a national solid waste management technology evaluation committee, which assesses every waste management technology suggested to the ministry.
She said that the committee, chaired by the ministry's secretary-general, has received some 207 suggestions from many quarters.
"This committee will then report to the deputy prime minister. If we find any of the technologies suitable, we will consider using it," said Azizah.
Explaining the suitability of the technologies, she said: "It must be cheaper than the one we had in mind for Broga."
She said the government may consider using a cheaper technology as the country is running out of space for landfills.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Azizah Mohd Dun said that the government had to cancel the project after taking into consideration its maintenance and operation costs.
"The only reason why we had to call it off is the cost - and only because of the cost," stressed Azizah, adding that the cancellation was also not caused by the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.
Azizah (BN-Beaufort) was replying to a query from Abdul Fatah Harun (PAS-Rantau Panjang) who asked the ministry to state whether the government was aware that the cancellation of the incinerator project was due to its hasty decision without taking into account the EIA report and the opposition from the local community. Azizah explained that the incinerator project, when its implementation was authorised by the government, has complied with all the requirements of the EIA reports.
"The cancellation, as announced by the deputy prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) as the solid waste and environmental management committee head is due to its cost. So it is untrue to say that the project was cancelled because of the EIA reports and public protests," said Azizah.
The RM1.5 billion incinerator project was called off by the government in July citing high cost as the reason for the cancellation.
The project was also opposed by the residents on the grounds that it posed a serious threat to their health, the environment and their livelihood.
Cheaper technologies
Not denying the possibilities of another incinerator project, Azizah said that her ministry has formed a national solid waste management technology evaluation committee, which assesses every waste management technology suggested to the ministry.
She said that the committee, chaired by the ministry's secretary-general, has received some 207 suggestions from many quarters. "This committee will then report to the deputy prime minister. If we find any of the technologies suitable, we will consider using it," said Azizah.
Explaining the suitability of the technologies, she said: "It must be cheaper than the one we had in mind for Broga."
She said the government may consider using a cheaper technology as the country is running out of space for landfills.
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