Letters

Still waiting for horticultural centre to take shape

LETTERS: This is to highlight again the issue and problem of the horticultural nurseries in Green Lane Sg Buloh, which have been affected by the DASH highway as well as road widening projects for Kwasa Damansara.

Whenever these are brought up, the state government's response is that it has a long term vision to re-locate all the nurseries in the entire Sg Buloh area, including those nurseries in Kg Melayu and Jalan Hospital, in one central venue for the proper growth and progress of the horticultural industry.

However, many years have passed since the promises were made and despite changes in administration to date nothing tangible has materialised. The nursery owners and operators continue to hope and look forward to the day this grand plan of the state government will be realised.

Many of the nurserymen have closed shop and many more are facing an uncertain future and, with road works going all around the place, businesses have stagnated as no new investments are made .

The issue of re-location continues to be delayed or drags on indefinitely and patience of the nurserymen is wearing thin. The longer the state government hesitates to act, the more the horticultural industry will suffer and it could slowly die off - and the Covid 19 pandemic could hasten the process.

As if all these problems were not enough, the contractor for the DASH highway project has not taken serious steps to settle the ex gratia payment promised to about 20 nurseries to expedite and facilitate the vacating of the nurseries.

More than a year has passed and most of the vacated site is unused and is now a dumping ground for all kinds of trash.The nurserymen were ordered to urgently vacate the area without any re-location plans and feeling or sympathy for the loss of livelihood or the resulting plight of the affected.

It is really shocking that none of the people's representatives has taken up the cause seriously to help the nurserymen, who sustain a vital industry that is now part and parcel of the re-greening and rehabilitation of the state especially the urban landscape.

Grouping all the nurseries in one centre will bring about orderly and tremendous growth and will also aid in the development of the surrounding areas due to spillover effects.

The horticultural centre could become a tourist venue and attraction as the diversity of local plants, flowers, trees and other related items is vast and the expertise and craft of the Sg Buloh nurserymen especially in landscaping, rock gardens and water fountains are well known.

All these will go to waste if the industry is fragmented over many locations and does not receive assistance in the setting up a centre. It is hoped that the problems associated with the nurseries will be resolved soon.

Only political will on the part of the state government will ensure that the proposed horticultural centre will take shape.

V. Thomas

Sg Buloh, Selangor


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times

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