“There have been many objections over a proposal to use part of four forest reserves in Selangor for the construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE),” conceded Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Khalid said the objection period was over and the state government will now seek more feedback from town hall meetings on the project which is part of the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (Klorr).

“(There were) many, many (objections) but I saw some of the letters are quite standard, I call it grouping (objection).

“I have passed them to the committee overseeing the decision on whether we should use the forest reserve or not,” he said.

Khalid ( left ) said the state government was in the process of organising town hall meetings on the matter and it will be publicised soon.

“Following that, then we will have a look whether it is necessary to act and implement in the manner that is recommended by the concessionaire.

“If not, then we will have to think of some other way,” he said.

If approved, an area of 106.65 hectares of land in four forest reserves, namely Ampang, Bukit Seputeh, Ulu Gombak and Ulu Langat, will be degazetted to pave the way for the highway.

Environmental groups have criticised the plan as the forest reserves hold crucial water catchment areas at a time where the state was facing serious water shortages.

EKVE is the second major highway the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor has had to deal with on top of the controverisakl Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).