(From third left) Asman Shah, Adib Azhari and other officers on a bridge over Sungai Rinting, near Jalan Cendana 13 in Taman Rinting. The river burst its banks and caused flash floods on Nov 21.
JOHOR BARU: The Shree Muniswaran Temple Taman Rinting is hoping that the two planned weir projects by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) will be able to solve the flood issues faced by the temple and the nearby community.
The Shree Muniswaran Temple Taman Rinting Association chairman K. Manogeran, 65, said the flooding on Nov 21 was by far the worst experienced by the 100-year-old temple, which is situated right next to Sungai Rinting.
“The last time this temple was inundated with flood water was back in 1999, and since then, we have conducted improvements in the surrounding areas.
“Usually the water would only rise to only about ankle deep but on that Saturday, the water rose up to knee-high, ” he said when met at the temple.
Meanwhile, temple secretary M. Eswaran, 31, said that the flood caused about RM8,000 in damages.
“Usually, the river overflows its banks once every two years, but this time, the flooding was totally unexpected. We did not manage to clear some of the prayer items which ended up being covered in mud, ” he added.
MBPG mayor Asman Shah Abdul Rahman had on Dec 3 announced that the city council would work with MBJB to build two weirs at Sungai Rinting located near the Pasir Gudang Highway.
The two weirs, stretching about 1km long, would be built on the river at the border between the two councils.
Manogeran says the flooding on Nov 21 was the worst experienced by the temple.
“The 500m stretch by MBPG will be built along Jalan Masai Lama near the Pasir Gudang Highway.
“The weir will slow down the river current especially during monsoon, ” he said.
He added that MBPG would also spend RM2mil to upgrade amenities for the Pasir Gudang highway.
All work was expected to be completed before the first quarter of 2021.
MBJB mayor Datuk Adib Azhari Daud said its 500m weir would be built near Jalan Tembusu 2, along the river just before the border with MBPG.
“We will also be building portable guardrails that can be removed for vehicles that are stuck on the road during flood, aside from a warning road sign on the Pasir Gudang highway, ” he said.
On Nov 21, continuous heavy rain had caused the water level in Sungai Rinting to rise and overflow its banks due to some obstruction further upriver, flooding several areas in Taman Rinting and Bandar Seri Alam.
The incident occurred at about 2pm and the water receded at about 5pm on the same day.
