Upgrading works at the Kampung Bohol Flood Detention Pond (KTBKB) in Kuala Lumpur are being fast-tracked following a series of setbacks.
These obstacles ranged from restricted working hours, squatter relocation, to severe flooding at the construction site itself.
A spokesperson for the contractor said the upgraded detention pond was expected to be handed over to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) by October.
“We could only start physical work in mid-2025 after squatter settlements in the area were cleared,” he said.
The spokesperson added that the project also faced delays due to additional technical requirements and ongoing discussions involving DID and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“When it gets muddy and there is heavy rain in the afternoon, work becomes difficult. By the time the water subsides, we have to stop work.”
He said the project team was intensifying efforts to complete and hand over the detention pond by October.
The spokesperson said the detention pond was designed in compliance with DID guidelines based on the 100-year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI 100) flood standard, with provision for future modifications to accommodate higher capacity requirements if needed.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said several major obstacles had slowed down the project.
“I was informed that the Bohol pond upgrading project had faced numerous delays and technical challenges, including prolonged approval processes, restricted working hours, persistent heavy rain and difficult ground conditions at the construction site.”
Kok said among the issues raised during a recent briefing with the contractor were delays in obtaining approval and permission to extend working hours beyond 6pm.
She said the limited working hours, previously capped at 7pm, had affected the pace of construction works.
However, the contractor has since successfully applied for an extension to work until 9pm as the site is not located near residential areas.
“The contractor has given a commitment to complete the project by the end of the year.”
On April 20, StarMetro reported in “No end in sight for Kg Bohol pond upgrade” that the flood mitigation project was facing delays nearly two years after the contract was awarded.
The upgrading of the detention pond, located alongside the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), is being carried out by a private developer as part of a land alienation deal announced in 2024.
Under the original agreement, the upgrading works were supposed to be completed within five months before any surrounding development projects on the associated plots could proceed.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh had told StarMetro earlier that DBKL would step up mitigation measures around Kampung Bohol during the upgrading period, including increasing desilting works and deploying mobile pumps in the area.
She said the decision was made following a site inspection with Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mat Ujud.
Yeoh said 25 flood-prone hotspots in Kuala Lumpur were identified for the placement of mobile pumps, including in the vicinity of Kampung Bohol.
She had stressed that no residential development linked to the land alienation exercise would be allowed to proceed until the flood detention pond upgrading works were fully completed.
“I have instructed the mayor and DID to ensure the developer adheres to the ‘Upgrade First, Build Later’ rule.
“Kampung Bohol remains a top priority in our mission to protect the city’s natural sponges from improper development,” she had said.
On May 8, 2023, StarMetro had reported that land surrounding the Kampung Bohol pond was being alienated to a private developer, raising concerns over its impact on flood mitigation.
Experts noted that development near flood retention ponds could increase flood risks in the Klang Valley.
There were also plans to straighten part of Sungai Kuyoh as part of the broader mitigation strategy.
The Kampung Bohol pond, located next to Sungai Kuyoh, serves Kampung Muhibbah
in Kuala Lumpur, Taman Kinrara in Selangor and developments along the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas).
Oversight needed
Stakeholders have welcomed assurances that the project would be completed soon.
However, they warned that Kuala Lumpur’s flood mitigation infrastructure must not be compromised.
Joint Committee to Preserve the Bohol Flood Retention Pond spokesperson Datuk Ng See Eng was encouraged by the contractor’s commitment to complete the project by October.
“However, the priority should be to ensure the project is completed properly, according to technical requirements and without compromising on the pond’s original role as a critical flood mitigation infrastructure for Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Referring to Yeoh’s recent emphasis on the sponge city concept, Ng said protecting buffer zones surrounding flood retention ponds was equally crucial.
“If Kuala Lumpur is serious about adopting the sponge city concept and improving its ability to absorb excess rainwater, then the buffer areas around flood mitigation ponds must be protected as much as possible.
“Perhaps it is also time for another review of certain technical requirements and surrounding development plans, especially since some of the proposed developments have yet to come up,” he said.
Ng added that stakeholders would continue monitoring the project closely, given earlier concerns over delays, environmental impact and development surrounding the area.
PPR Kampung Muhibbah Residents Association chairman Atar Bacha Haja appreciated the clearer explanation on the progress of the project.
However, he said authorities should also address the ageing and inadequate drainage system in the surrounding areas, which was one reason the people’s housing project continued to be hit by floods when it rained heavily.
“The pond is important, but the drainage issues around the PPR must also be looked into seriously because this is one of the main reasons residents here are constantly being deluged by floods.”
