Approval process for PWD projects shortened

KUALA LUMPUR: Approval for projects managed by the Public Works Department (PWD) will be shortened to 14 days instead of the three to five months it took previously.

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said yesterday the decision to shorten the period was made at the meeting of the National Council for Local Authorities on Sept 17 and took effect immediately.

He said previously, the PWD had to submit the applications and copies of the project site plans, landscape plans, building plans and proposed progress reports to 11 relevant departments and agencies, and this approval process was found to be one of the reasons for project delays.The departments and agencies included the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Indah Water Konsortium, and the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

He said the projects managed by PWD alsio no longer need to be submitted to the local authorities first. Instead, the proposals and project plans should be submitted to the state Town and Country Planning directors.

Shaziman said the state Town and Country departments would act as coordinators for all technical matters and arising problems with the local authorities and other relevant agencies.

"The state Town and Country Planning directors are required to discuss with the relevant approving parties within 14 days after receiving the project proposals complete with the plans from PWD,"he said.

Shaziman said as the government's biggest agency in the engineering field, PWD would definitely meet all the standards required and need not wait for up to five months for a project to be approved. – Bernama