KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been urged to build a detention pond in Taman Pusat Kepong to help mitigate flooding in the area.
Community activist Yee Poh Ping said the facility would complement the existing retention pond (Benteng 1), which was unable to cope with high volumes of water during period of prolonged rain.
He said closing the Benteng 1 retention pond’s outlets once it hit capacity caused water to backflow, flooding Kepong Baru and the Segambut KTM station.
“The retention pond channels water into waterways connected to the city centre.
“Closing the outlets helps prevent flooding in the city centre, but this comes at the expense of Kepong residents, who experience flooding instead.
“The flood happens a few times a year, with the most recent incidents on April 19 and 20.
“I propose that the detention pond be built underground, beneath the nearby high-tension cable site,” he said during a site visit to the retention pond.
DBKL and the Kuala Lumpur Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) representatives were also present.
Acknowledging that the detention pond project will take time, Yee also proposed several short-term flood mitigation measures.
He noted that a private car workshop was operating on DID-owned land next to the retention pond.
“That land is connected to the pond and can be used to expand it,” he said.
“I also suggest dredging the pond to increase its water capacity while expansion plans are considered.
“Furthermore, DID should exercise caution and only close the retention pond gate when absolutely necessary,” added Yee. — By VIJENTHI NAIR
