MBDK looking underground to mitigate flooding in Little India

Mohd Zaidi (left) discussing with civil engineer Mohd Fazrul Syamel Hasan plans for an on-site detention pond under the carpark off Jalan Bukit Jawa. — KK SHAM/The Star

UNDERGROUND on-site detention (OSD) pond designs are being studied to address flooding in Klang’s Little India area.

Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) Engineering Department acting director Mohd Zaidi Zainal said they were poring over various designs to deliver a plan that would effectively manage surface runoff near Jalan Tengku Kelana.

“We have identified a carpark between Jalan Bukit Jawa and Jalan Mohet (across Sri Nagara Thanda­yutha­pani Hindu temple) as a location for an underground OSD pond,” he said, adding that the carpark with 49 bays would be retained to serve visitors to Little India.

The OSD pond would be in addition to a smaller retention pond at Jalan Dato Hamzah, Mohd Zaidi said, with construction expected to start in September.

Traders told StarMetro that floodwaters would typically rise starting from the main road at the intersection of Jalan Tengku Kelana and Jalan Pulasan, towards the entrance of Jalan Yeo Guan Hup.

Mohd Zaidi said the OSD pond would be designed to temporarily store and then gradually release surface runoff through an outlet structure that controls the release rate, and this would help mitigate flooding.

MBDK, he said, had allocated RM1mil for the construction of the underground OSD pond.

He added that there had been suggestions to widen the drains along Jalan Teng­ku Kelana, but it could be costly and disruptive.