TTDI Lembah Kiara park in deplorable conditions

In a sad state: The pond has become a mosquitobreeding ground. (Photo by The Star)

WELL-MAINTAINED OR RUN-DOWN? Lim showing a septic tank from which water flows into a stream that runs through the park. ABOVE: The fountain that Lim says has not functioned for a year (Photos by The Malay Mail)

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/4/2/central/11030653&sec=central (By FAZLEENA AZIZ, 2/4/2012)
RESIDENTS of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur are concerned over the dilapidated conditions of the Lembah Kiara recreational park. The park’s water fountain has not been functioning for the past one year while the water lily pond has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Its hanging bridge has been out of order for two months with a sign erected by the authorities forbidding people from using it. The rubberised mats are also ridden with holes.
Residents said they believed the toilet’s septic tank was out of order causing some of the discharge to flow into the drain and the stream.
Wee Y.C. 53, who has lived in TTDI for 28 years, said the poor condition of the park would have an adverse effect on events held place at the park. He said it was important to preserve the park as it was a family place not only for the locals but also for Klang Valley folks. “Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has an allocation to maintain parks. The money should be used to spruce up the place,” he asked.
Meanwhile, resident James Ng, 58, is concerned for the aquatic life and tortoises living in the pond. “I am disappointed with the level of maintenance because the authorities should be aware of the problem and find a solution. “There is a site office for the Housing and Local Government Ministry which isn’t used. They should be consistent in addressing the problems here,” he said.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who visited the park, agreed that there was a lack of maintenance of the park by the authorities. He said there was a question as to who was responsible for maintaining the park. “DBKL had handed over the park to the ministry. But on DBKL’s website, it states you need to liaise with them. It’s quite confusing who is the rightful authority, “In DBKL’s budget, they have allocated RM96mil for park maintenance, so why are they not using the funds to upgrade this park?
“When I contacted DBKL, they said the fountain and waterfall pumps will be fixed as they are finding contractors. “DBKL said they have no expertise to fix them but it is important that the relevant authorities address them as the park is heavily used,” Lim said.

MP, City Hall differ over Lembah Kiara Park
Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/story/mp-city-hall-differ-over-lembah-kiara-park (By Siti Nursuraya Ali, 2/4/2012)
WHAT constitute a good recreation park?
For residents and visitors to the Lembah Kiara recreational park in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here, as long as it is safe, clean and well-maintained, it is good.
For Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, however, the park is “run down” and, to prove his point, he took reporters on a tour of the park yesterday. Lim said it was sad to see the park in such a condition. “As a green lung, it deserves better maintenance than it is getting now,” he said. Lim said he had received complaints a septic tank there had malfunctioned, causing sewage water to leak into a stream, which runs through the park before ending up in a lake.
“Children play in this stream not knowing sewage water is flowing in it as well. There is a natural spring here and poor maintenance will destroy it,” he said. He said the other amenities at the park were also poorly looked after. “The water pump for an artificial waterfall and fountain in the middle of the lake have not functioned for at least a year,” he said.
“When I questioned Kuala Lumpur City Hall about it, they claimed they had no budget and manpower or skilled workers to repair it.” Lim said he was unhappy with the explanation as City Hall had allocated RM96 million or seven per cent of its 2012 budget of RM2.17 billion for recreational parks and green lungs upkeep alone.
He said there were rumours that City Hall was planning to re-gazette the park land and allow a development project just behind it. “Although the rumours are unconfirmed, they are enough to raise concerns,” he said.
In response, City Hall director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup said: “Don’t they have better things to do? The park is well-maintained. “And for their information, the Lembah Kiara recreational park is managed by the National Landscape Department, under the Ministry of Housing (and Local Government), and not the City Hall.”
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