Drainage widening works are ongoing along Jalan Segambut Dalam to address persistent flooding in the area. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
KAMPUNG Masjid Segambut residents may soon see some relief from recurring floods as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is carrying out drainage upgrading works.
Segambut Residents Representative Council (MPP) chairman Wong Zhong Yi said 200m of drains along Jalan Segambut Dalam were being widened by about 30% to increase its capacity during heavy rain.
“Every year, almost 40 houses are affected during the rainy season.
“We hope this initiative will help reduce the impact on these households,” Wong said during a site visit yesterday.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh’s aide Yap Yee Vonne said the project was divided into two phases.
The second phase will see another 300m stretch widened, subject to DBKL’s budget allocation for next year.
The upgrading involves replacing the old drains, which measure about 1m by 1m and are built with brick that are not structurally strong and are thus prone to collapsing.
The second phase of drainage works will start next year, pending an allocation from DBKL.
In their place, DBKL is installing precast concrete U-drains measuring 1,200mm wide by 1,050mm high, designed to withstand heavier flows of rainwater.
DBKL began the infrastructure upgrading works in August as part of its flood mitigation measures.
The project is being carried out by DBKL’s Civil Engineering and Drainage Department (JKAWS), which had also conducted silt-clearing works at Sungai Toba four times this year.
Kampung Masjid Segambut Residents Association chairman Mohd Faizul Karim said the road had been a flood hotspot for nearly a decade.
“The drains here were built four decades ago and can no longer cope with the current volume of rainfall,” he said.
He hopes that the project will continue for a length of at least another 200m, as the area is one of the lowest-lying spots in the neighbourhood.
“For years we have endured repeated flooding, and there will be no end to it unless the drains are properly upgraded,” Mohd Faizul stressed.
Also present during the site visit was Segambut MPP Subzone 4 chairman Budihardi Sabei.
