Low showing Choy where Sungai Pinji will swell when it rains heavily.
Parts of Sungai Pinji will be widened to alleviate flash floods in Taman Cempaka, Ipoh, Perak.
Canning assemblyman Jenny Choy said she received a notice from the Drainage and Irrigation Department that work to widen the river would start on May 9.
Choy added that the department would widen three stretches of the river near Taman Cempaka, Ampang and Pekan Razaki, with works expected to be completed on July 4.
“This is good news for residents of Taman Cempaka as they have been facing flash floods since last year.
“Apart from widening the river, the department will also clean it.
“The last time the river was deepened was in 2019,” she said in a press conference.
Choy said there had been three serious flash floods at Taman Cempaka since December last year.
“There had been flash floods previously but the incidents last year were more serious as water flowed into homes.
“Within hours of heavy rainfall, the river will swell, causing water in culverts to spin and create a backflow,” she said, adding that Persiaran Cempaka Sari 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 had been badly affected.
“The water can reach chest-level and residents will start to get anxious whenever the sky becomes dark,” she said.
Choy said she had suggested to Ipoh City Council to build a reten-tion pond near the residential area.
“I think a retention pond will help to prevent flash floods should the river swell in the future,” she said.
“Water that flows through the river near Taman Cempaka also comes from upstream areas such as Ipoh Garden East and Tambun,” she added.
Trader Jacob Low, 50, from Taman Cempaka, hopes the project will finally resolve the issue.
“I have been staying in this housing area since the 1980s and have never seen such serious flash floods before last year.
“My house is on higher ground fortunately but I feel bad for other residents, especially senior citizens, when flash floods occur.
“We are thankful that the department is widening Sungai Pinji,” he said.
