People wading through floodwaters at Hospital Sultanah Aminah on Aug 2. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR Baru City Council (MBJB) will take proactive measures after several parts of the city were inundated following the downpour on Aug 2.
The city council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state Public Works Department (JKR) and state Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) on this.
Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman explained that main rivers and drainage were under DID’s purview while MBJB was in charge of main tributaries and ditches.
He said culvert crossings on JKR roads were important to ensure smooth water flow.
“The culverts have to be maintained regularly so they do not clog up, especially during a downpour and high tide.
“A discussion will be held soon between all parties on this,” he said.
Flood-hit Jalan Ayer Molek near Menara Tabung Haji in Johor Baru. —Photo from Facebook
Mohd Noorazam added the city council had undertaken several short-term measures.
Riverbed cleaning works at Sungai Sengkuang and Sungai Buntan had been carried out to prevent repeat flooding in areas located near rivers, he said.
Mohd Noorazam said remedial works involving Sungai Tampoi, Sungai Bala, Sungai Sebulung and Sungai Pandan would start soon.
“The city council has also instructed a developer to prevent soil from its ongoing project flowing into drains which caused the flash flood,’’ he said in a statement.
Mohd Noorazam said that failure to do so would result in a stop-work order being issued to the developer under Section 71 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
He said if found guilty, the developer could be fined up to RM500,000 or face 10 years’ imprisonment .
On long-term plans, he said that the city council would carry out a study on the capacity of existing water pumps including installing pumps in new development areas.
“This is to ensure water can be released smoothly into the Straits of Johor, especially during high tide,’’ said Mohd Noorazam.
He also urged residents to stop dumping waste into rivers and drains as their action could result in drains clogging up and causing flash floods.
Among the areas affected by the floods were Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Kampung Mohd Amin, Jalan Sungai Chat, Persiaran Abu Bakar, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Jalan Ayer Molek from Wisma Tenaga Nasional Bhd to Wisma Persekutuan, Jalan Stulang Darat, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Jalan Tebrau including the intersection of Jalan Dato’ Sulaiman, Jalan Sekolah and Jalan Dewasa (Kampung Bakar Batu).
The two locations affected by mud floods were Jalan Ayer Molek (the intersection of Jalan Lingkaran Dalan to Wisma Persekutuan) and Jalan Tebrau (the intersection of Jalan Salleh to Jalan Tun Abdul Razak).
