KL City Hall mulls new flood mitigation plans

City Hall looking at flood-mitigation measures to resolve the recent bout of flash floods.

KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is researching flood-mitigation measures to resolve the recent bout of flash floods which swamped the Old Klang Road 4 1/2 Mile wet market.

DBKL Civil Engineering and Urban Transportation Department officer Roshasnida Mohamed said there were two proposals: to install a pipe, which would connect to a storm drain and help dispersal of flood waters, on either Jalan Klang Lama or Jalan Kuchai Lama.

“The flooding was not as bad before.

“We have been asking Alam Flora to clear the drains here of sand,” she said, adding that the sand was believed to have washed off from a development uphill from the wet market.

Seputeh Barisan Nasional public service bureau chief Pang Kin Cheong said the flash floods occurred on April 28, April 30 and May 2.

“The May 2 flood was the worst.

“Water reached up to the traders’ tables, about one metre high,” he said, adding that the refrigerators and items stored under the tables were damaged by muddy water.

DBKL advisory board member Datuk Wilson Lau Hoi Keong said the fact the floods were happening so close together needed urgent fixing.

“If we confirm it is the development’s fault, we will seek compensation for the traders,” he said.

Seputeh MCA vice-chairman Banie Chin said the party and DBKL had arranged a meeting between developers and the hawker association to come up with a speedy solution and possibly provide compensation.

He said the hawker association had estimated losses of around RM100,000 so far.

Old Klang Road Market Traders Association chairman Koh Yoke Kook said the market did not have flooding the last five years.

“It was a surprise, there were no signs like dirty water or minor flooding, suddenly we had a flash flood,” she said.

Koh said of the 300 members in the market, around 100 were badly affected.

“The worst flooding was on the side of the market closer to the Choong Wen (SJKC) school, because it’s on lower ground,” she said.