Council to go green by 2020 - The Star

Feb 26 2015 - Ivan Loh 

THE Ipoh City Council is planning to replace its Ipoh Local Plan 2020 to reflect the times as rapid development is taking place.

Datuk Bandar Datuk Harun Rawi said the city council would conduct a study to review the plan, which was gazetted in 2012, and replace it with an updated plan.

“The studies will be conducted from time to time as zoning exercises and development takes place.

“It could take up to two years before the new plan could be in place,” he told journalists after chairing the city council fullboard meeting recently.

“We will also try to get the necessary approval and estimated allocations for the plan,” he said, adding that it was one of the city council’s programmes to turn Ipoh into a compact and liveable city.

Harun said a lot of factors within the current plan needs to be reviewed and changed.

“These include the public transportation masterplan and highrise developments,” he said.

“We have had lots of applications for project developments and these would also be studied,” he added.

Harun also said the city council would adopt a “green neighbourhood” concept by working on several initiatives.

He said the city council would work on two masterplans for bicycle paths and pedestrian paths.

“We will also work on several other initiatives including a rainwater harvesting system, community farming development and waste composting programmes,” he said.

“For new development projects, the city council has also set a requirement to introduce green technology,” he added.

On the safety aspect of the city, Harun said some RM339,000 has been allocated by the Local Government Department for a “bleaching” programme in Gugusan Manjoi.

He said studies have been conducted with the residents there and the city council is carrying out its programme to improve the infrastructure to make the area safer.