SHAH ALAM – After an eviction scare for weeks, it has been decided that Kebun-Kebun Bangsar is here to stay!
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has decided to organise the community garden as a partner of the Local Agenda 21 Kuala Lumpur (LA21KL).
In a statement released yesterday, DBKL stated that it was acting in accordance with the decision of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Land Working Committee, which approved the Temporary Occupation License on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Electricity Line Reserve Government Land located between Jalan Cenderai and Lorong Bukit Pantai 4, Taman Bukit Pantai, Mukim Kuala Lumpur, for the purpose of a nursery and gardening on June 28.
"Today, the Executive Director of DBKL Planning presided over a meeting with the Bangsar Gardens, stakeholders, representatives of citizens’ organisations, TNB, and Pejabat Tanah dan Galian (PTG).
"Based on the meeting, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar has been informed of the decision made by DBKL, according to which the farms are now coordinated under the LA21KL programme as LA21KL urban community farms.
The statement read that the operations in the orchard would be periodically monitored by DBKL and relevant entities.
According to DBKL, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, which had been in operation since October 2016, was an example project for gardening activities and should be imitated if carried out in compliance with the norms and conditions established.
In addition to getting several funds from Khazanah Nasional and ThinkCity for a good "placemaking” effort, various activities were carried out and the community garden became a successful model garden that was visited by numerous local and foreign delegations.
According to the statement, they also gained support from the media and the public for conducting agricultural education programmes for visitors due to the range of crops and herbs.
The Kebun-Kebun Bangsar Community Centre was formerly subject to enforcement action for allegedly breaking the terms of the Temporary Occupation License for use as a nursery.