StarMetro’s report on Aug 4.
SIX out of eight screw pumps installed at four locations along Sungai Labu in Sepang, Selangor, as part of a flood mitigation plan are in working order.
Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said the pumps were able to channel water out from Kampung Labu Lanjut, Taman Perumahan Labu Lanjut and parts of Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi into Sungai Labu to prevent flooding at locations called Parit B, Parit C, Parit D and Parit E.
Izham says about 12,000 people will benefit once the pump project is completed.
“Each location has two screw pumps. Electricity supply has been connected to Parit B, C and D while the two screw pumps in Parit E are under repair,” he said.
Izham gave assurance that in preparation for the north-east monsoon season, two mobile pumps had been installed at the Parit E site.
About 12,000 people, he said, would benefit from the project once it was fully completed.
StarMetro reported on Aug 4 that residents were worried about the multiple extensions given to the project.
The RM17.75mil state project started in October 2018 and was supposed to have been completed by Feb 4 last year.
Selangor had approved several extensions to the deadline, with the final delivery date set for Dec 22 due to several issues including electricity supply problems.
Labu Lanjut village community management council chairman Damarulan Hassim said the people were pleased that there was progress on the work.
“We were not informed that the electricity supply had been connected. Earlier this month, it was raining heavily and the ditches were filling up.
“Nearby residents had started to worry. Then, we saw the screw pumps pumping out the water from the ditches into the river.
“We hope the project will be fully completed as scheduled and operate without any problems,” he added.
Damarulan says the villagers want the authorities to expedite the completion of the project.
Several areas in Sepang, namely Taman Dengkil, Kampung Cemperai, Kampung Sungai Buah, Kampung Semarang, Kampung Lalang and PPRT Ampar Tenang were flooded after heavy rain on Thursday.
One of the affected schools, SJK (T) Dengkil was removed as a polling centre and replaced with SR Agama Dengkil.
Sepang district officer Khairi Azali Ibrahim, who is also the Sepang disaster management committee chairman, said about 200 families had been moved to a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) on the same day.
There are six evacuation centres, four in the Dengkil district and two in Labu district.
Khairi said the flooding started at 4am and all related agencies responded promptly.
“The situation was a little chaotic at the PPS in the beginning but everything was settled by night.
“All essential items like mats and blankets are being provided. Aid from non-governmental organisations is also arriving,” he added.
