JKR Permit Mandatory For Contractors, Utility Companies Before Road Excavation - Perak Exco

IPOH, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- All utility companies and contractors in Perak are required to obtain a permit from the Public Works Department (JKR) before carrying out any excavation work within road reserves, said state Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

He said the requirement applies to all earthworks involving the installation or repair of water pipelines, gas pipelines, electricity cables and telecommunications lines to ensure that they did not affect underground infrastructure or compromise the safety and convenience of road users.

"Without the permit, the Koridor Utiliti Darul Ridzuan (KUDR) and JKR will immediately stop the work. These road reserves are under JKR's supervision and without permission, the area must not be touched at all. This is what we have stipulated," he told a press conference after launching the Perak JKR town hall session with KUDR and utility companies here today.

Mohammad Nizar said the permit application procedure had now been streamlined through cooperation between JKR and KUDR, including the implementation of ground mapping to identify the locations of existing utilities.

He said the measure was particularly important in areas with multiple underground utilities, as excavation work carried out without accurate information could damage electricity cables and water pipelines, besides posing a risk to gas pipelines.

"In the past, problems arose when approvals were granted without comprehensive mapping, resulting in damage to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) cables or Perak Water Board (LAP) pipelines.

"Now, through the coordination of JKR and KUDR permits, we can identify potential clashes with high-risk pipelines, such as gas pipelines, and prevent damage to multiple utilities," he said.

He added that JKR permits also set standards for resurfacing and restoring roads after excavation work had been completed.

He said failure by contractors to comply with the stipulated specifications, including inadequate compaction of the road base, could cause road surfaces to sink, develop potholes and become uneven.

-- BERNAMA