Amirudin (left) at the World Rivers Day celebration at Taman Eko Ara Damansara in Petaling Jaya. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
THE Selangor government will expedite work to deepen rivers near flood hotspots in Shah Alam and Klang in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the projects would involve areas around Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam and Jalan Meru in Klang.
“Work was initially scheduled to start in January next year, but we aim to bring them forward to November this year.
“This is in view of heavy rainfall expected during the monsoon season at the end of the year,” he said at the World Rivers Day celebration at Taman Eko Ara Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
He highlighted that the projects were also meant to prevent a repeat of last year’s flooding incident.
Amirudin said these projects were part of a larger flood mitigation project estimated to cost RM700mil by Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
He said DID also received RM4.78bil from the Federal Government to carry out related works, including building bunds and strengthening riverbanks.
The works will involve sections of Sungai Klang, Sungai Langat, Sungai Kapar Kecil, Sungai Kapar Besar and Sungai Rasau.
On a related matter, Amirudin said the state government was also planning a RM550mil project to upgrade Sungai Damansara.
“This will include the building of a bund along the riverbank and underground water storage,” he said, adding that this was in the approval process.
Amirudin noted that Sungai Damansara, spanning 152sq km, serves as a water catchment area for six areas in Shah Alam that were at risk of flooding.
These areas are Taman TTDI Jaya, Bukit Jelutong New Klang Valley Expressway Interchange, Section 13, Taman Mesra, Batu Tiga and Kampung Melayu Kebun Bunga.
Currently, Selangor has seven river basins spanning 8,576sq km with a total length of 761.5km.
At the World Rivers Day event, Amirudin planted a bamboo tree and released fish into the water.
The event also featured other activities such as fishing competition, fun run and colouring contest for children aged four to nine.
Also present were Selangor Speaker Ng Suee Lim, state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim and Selangor DID director Mohamad Nazif Daud.
