The Taman Midah flood retention pond is an eyesore with rubbish scattered all over the place. — Filepic
Kuala lumpur Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) maintains that the Sungai Midah flood retention pond in Bandar Tun Razak is functioning as intended – despite its rubbish choked appearance.
In a statement to StarMetro, DID defended its once-a-year maintenance schedule for the pond.
“Maintenance work for Sungai Midah pond is carried out once a year, typically beginning in april and completed within a maximum period of six months, subject to current needs and budget allocation,” the statement said.
DID did not specify the scope of pond maintenance activities.
“This year’s maintenance work began in april and is expected to be completed by October.
“Additionally, around the pond area, the department has the grass cut and rubbish cleared twice a month, throughout the year,” it stated.
Between November and March, the period when no contractor was typically engaged, the department said it continued to monitor the condition of the pond to ensure it remained operational.
TBS transit hub, located beside the flood retention pond, inundated with floodwaters recently. — Filepic
“Besides annual maintenance works, we will undertake additional tasks if urgent needs arise, requiring immediate action to prevent disruption of pond operations,” it said.
DID was responding to questions relating to issues surrounding the water body, published in StarMetro’s May 6 report: “Rubbish choking Kl flood pond.”
Residents living near the pond had raised concerns that poor maintenance was impeding its flood-mitigation function.
They cited blocked drains and accumulated rubbish as serious threats, particularly with the monsoon season approaching.
Environmental groups had echoed these concerns, pointing to a recurring lapse in maintenance and enforcement.
Despite this, the department insisted that the Sungai Midah pond continued to function within its design capacity.
“According to our records, there has been no overflow from the pond into the surrounding areas.
“The retention pond’s capacity is 231,000 cubic metres.”
When asked if rubbish traps or floating barriers could be installed upstream to prevent debris from reaching the pond, DID explained that such measures could backfire.
“The Sungai Midah pond is an online storage pond, designed to retain stormwater before releasing it back into Sungai Midah through gravity flow.
“For the system to work effectively, the inflow must remain unimpeded – especially during peak rainfall – to allow water to move quickly.
“Installing trash traps or similar structures along the waterway could obstruct this flow and increase the risk of flash floods in surrounding areas,” the statement explained.
StarMetro report on May 6.
The pond was originally gazetted for flood retention in 2002.
However, with the development of transit hub Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) beside the flood retention pond, lot boundary changes necessitated regazettement, which was underway, DID said, but assured that the pond’s function remained unaffected in the meantime.
On whether the department had identified the source of industrial waste, reportedly flowing from small factories in Cheras via Sungai Midah, or if any enforcement or mitigation action was being taken, DID stated that the matter fell outside its jurisdiction.
However, Sungai Midah Flood Retention Pond Nature lovers Club chairman Mohd Zainuddin amran said: “DID cannot wash its hands of this.
“The rubbish is a serious issue and even if it is not affecting the pond’s capacity, it is still flowing into it.
“This is its (DID) pond and it needs to take some responsibility for what is happening.
“It should be working together with the Environment Department (DOE), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKl) and Alam Flora to find out where the rubbish is coming from and come up with a proper clean-up plan.”
Zainuddin added that the community there was ready to help: “We could organise a gotong-royong to clean up the place.”
Long-time resident Salmah Husin feels the place has become an eyesore.
“This pond used to be a scenic spot where families came for evening walks.
“The rubbish is ruining the beauty of the place.
“I want to know where this rubbish is coming from.
“The pond is our pride and joy – no one wants to see it filled with waste,” she said.
Last month, StarMetro reported on flash floods in the area, with walkways submerged and rubbish scattered across entrances to TBS.
Residents said this happened after every significant downpour and questioned the efficacy of existing flood-mitigation measures.
