City Hall steps up mitigation efforts after record rainfall in capital
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has identified 14 flood hotspots for intensified mitigation following a surge in heavy rainfall that triggered flash floods across the capital.
The identified areas include Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, Bulatan Dato Onn, Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Genting Klang, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Pintasan Segambut.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud (pic) said measures were in place to address the perennial issue of flash floods in the city.
“They include the maintenance of on-site detention ponds, desilting of rivers and main drains, clearing of drainage systems, as well as construction and upgrading of drains in these hotspot areas,” he said during a press conference at DBKL headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut yesterday.
The move comes after a downpour on May 6 which the Universiti Malaya rainfall station recorded at a peak of 96.5mm per hour, exceeding the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) warning threshold of 60mm over a period of two to four hours.
The deluge caused river levels to rise abruptly, resulting in flash floods in Segambut Dalam while Sungai Toba and Sungai Kerayong both breached danger levels.
Fadlun said the number of hotspots had been successfully reduced from over 30 locations to the current 14 after continuous mitigation projects and drainage improvements.
“For example, we have increased the frequency of maintenance and desilting for Sungai Toba and Sungai Kerayong to once every two months.
“Normally, this is done every four months.
“We will monitor the impact, as desilting should increase the water capacity of Sungai Toba.”
DBKL had also established the Kuala Lumpur Flash Flood Hotspot Task Force, which would be deployed whenever rainfall exceeded 22mm per hour, said the mayor.
“The team will clear dry leaves and debris obstructing water flow at drainage inlets.”
Additionally, a Special Pothole Task Force has been formed to inspect and repair affected roads as soon as rain subsides, reducing risks to road users.
To keep city dwellers informed, DBKL is implementing early weather forecast notifications via broadcasts on several radio stations, three times daily at 9.30am, 12pm and 4pm.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said planning permission for any development on retention pond land would not be approved unless specific DID conditions were met.
“Based on DID’s technical assessment, development on retention pond land has affected their original function and made maintenance difficult.
“This is the case for Jinjang and Batu flood retention ponds, where 17 land lots have been alienated to developers since 2015.
“An estimated 70% of the land area within the water body zones has been transferred to developers, reducing the ponds’ capacity to 34.35ha, compared with their original size of 114.5ha,” Yeoh said.
