Clogged with thick mud and waste, this monsoon drain off Persiaran Raja Muda Musa in Klang needs a proper clean-up. — S.S. KANESAN/The Star
WITH heavy rain expected due to the north-east monsoon season, Klang folk say the authorities have not addressed issues that cause flash floods in their neighbourhoods.
They claim contractors hired to desilt monsoon drains have not been doing a proper job.
Mud and thick carpet of grass that impede water flow need to be urgently removed in Taman Bayu Perdana.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and Klang District Public Works Department (JKR) need to rebuild the neighbourhood’s old drains that are broken and misaligned, which causes an overflow, stagnation or backflow of water.
Taman Bayu Perdana Residents Association (TBPRA) vice-chairman G. Mohan said high rainfall had become the norm but there was no comprehensive plan to address the deluge.
“Last month, workers desilted the monsoon drain along Jalan Pegaga.
“But the contractor did a poor job, so clumps of grass and a bed of sand still covers the bottom of the monsoon drain.
“Most of the Taman Bayu Perdana Residents Association and Rukun Tetangga (RT) members have urged MPK and Klang JKR to initiate measures for monsoon preparedness.
“Residents want the drains desilted but we are seeing a lackadaisical attitude and the work is not carried out satisfactorily,” he said.
TBPRA assistant secretary Wong Chee Meng said there was a sense of unpreparedness this monsoon season as an underground retention pond at Padang Enam, off Jalan Pegaga, had not been desilted.
“It was built in 2012 after a major flood and until today, no effort has been made to remove the sand and silt inside.
“We want MPK’s Environmental Services Department to clean up the retention pond soon to prevent flash floods,” he said.
Wong said TBPRA’s request was a basic preventive measure.
“Most of our residents are prompt in their assessment fee payments.
“Councillors for the area must check their neighbourhoods, see the condition of infrastructure and submit a complete report to the local council to have the damaged drains rebuilt,” he added.
Taman Chi Liung Rukun Tetangga (RT) president Barrie Ganeson urged MPK to remove the hardened dirt in monsoon culverts along Persiaran Seraya, near the Lebuh Turi roundabout, as it impeded the smooth flow of surface runoff.
“It is crucial to ensure the monsoon drain is not clogged as it will help to curb flash floods,” he said.
Ganeson added that the RT also wanted MPK to build a filter fence at a monsoon drain some 80m from the crossing in Jalan Bagor, next to the high-rise residential apartments of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
Taman Gembira resident Amri Baharuddin said the monsoon drain outside Wisma Palmbase off Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, which falls under JKR Klang, was filled with waste and obstructed surface run-off that contributed to flash floods.
Klang Consumer Association president Devadas Anjan said MPK must set aside an allocation in Budget 2022 to build new drains in Taman Bayu Perdana, as a large portion of the drainage network had become dysfunctional because it was damaged and not aligned.
On the choked drains filled with dirt and waste, he said the lack of supervision by MPK had led to the workers’ shoddy work.
When contacted, MPK Environmental Services Department spokesperson told StarMetro that desilting work was ongoing.
“We will also inspect the retention pond at Padang Enam and get it cleaned up.
“Other areas in Meru and the Taman Chi Liung monsoon drain culverts will be desilted as well.
“We will inform JKR Klang to clean up the monsoon drain outside Wisma Palmbase soon,” she said.
