(MY) green lungs goind

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Sunday September 11, 2005 - The Star

 

Green lungs in danger?

 

BY TEOH TEIK HOONG

 

PETALING JAYA: Federal Hill and the Lake Gardens – Kuala Lumpur's two

remaining green lungs – may soon be history if proposals to develop the

areas are approved.

 

Located between Jalan Parlimen and Jalan Bangsar, the significantly

historical Federal Hill, on which Sri Perdana sits, is being eyed by

property developers to build almost 1,000 units of bungalows, semi-detached

and terrace houses as well as shop lots.

 

According to a source, City Hall had received numerous applications to

develop the whole 70ha of the hill over the last two years.

 

There is also a proposal, which is at an advanced stage, to develop parts of

the Lake Gardens for commercial properties such as shop lots and

restaurants.

 

“The latest proposal is to develop the whole of Federal Hill, which belongs

to the Federal Government.

 

“This would be a disaster as Federal Hill is one of Kuala Lumpur’s green

lungs,” the source said.

 

It is understood that the development might include demolishing most of the

old and dilapidated government bungalows in the area to make way for the

project.

 

“If Federal Hill is developed, nothing else in the country is sacred. It’s

one of the last remaining chunks of contiguous green area in the city,” the

source said.

 

“Everyone wants a piece of these two areas and will not stop until they get

it.

 

“It’s about time these two land banks are protected for everyone and not

just an elite few,” the source added.

 

It is understood that, if approved, the Federal Hill project will increase

the density of the area 10-fold.

 

Strategically located in the vicinity of KL Sentral, Muzium Negara, the

Parliament and the National Mosque, the two areas are highly desirable.

 

It is learnt that the bungalow lots proposed could fetch a minimum of RM4mil

each.

 

The source said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was expected

to receive a detailed plan of the proposed project before the end of this

month.

 

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