The RM6mil river upgrade project will be completed in October 2023.
A 1km stretch of Sungai Kayu Ara is being upgraded to end flash floods in Kampung Cempaka in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Petaling Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) district engineer Mohd Kamal Mustafa said the Selangor government had allocated RM6mil for the upgrading project.
The upgrade includes slope strengthening works as well as building of a retaining wall, a river outlet and a water catchment pond near Lily Apartments.
He said work was projected to be completed in October next year.
“The flooding issue has been bad over the past 10 years.
“This 1km stretch of Sungai Kayu Ara near Jalan PJU 1/3A is the most critical one as it floods quickly during a downpour.
“We hope there will be no floods after the works,” said Mohd Kamal.
He was speaking to reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony which was also attended by Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
Jamaliah said Kampung Cempaka residents were delighted over the approval of the project as they had suffered a long time.
“The worst floods happened in 2018 and 2020 where the floodwaters were up to the neck,” she said.
She added that the Federal Government approved RM20mil for further upgrade works along Sungai Kayu Ara.
“Climate change is happening and this leads to unpredictable rain and flooding even during the non-monsoon season,” said Jamaliah.
Kampung Cempaka village head Theresa Lim said the village had close to 1,030 houses and 8,000 residents.
Each time it flooded, she said, the residents suffered losses close to RM7,000 as well as emotional distress.
Lim is grateful that both the state and Federal governments approved the budget for river upgrading works in the area.
