Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has carried out river desilting and bank-clearing works along Sungai Plong, Sungai Buloh to address flash floods in the area.
State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said the project stretched from the outlet at Elmina Business Park to Lorong Manggis in Gombak.
“The maintenance work cost RM100,000 and was carried out from May 30 to July 7.
“It will increase the river’s flow capacity and reduce the risk of overflow, particularly during heavy rainfall.
“DID will continue to monitor the river’s condition and carry out regular maintenance work,” Izham said during the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam yesterday.
He was responding to Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri (PN-Paya Jaras), who asked about the progress of Sungai Plong upgrades and the state’s long-term plan to reduce flooding in the area.
Regarding long-term measures, Izham said the state government had imposed planning permission conditions through local councils requiring developers to construct detention ponds for any project exceeding 10.11ha.
“This is in accordance with the Urban Stormwater Management Manual.
“State agencies will also conduct integrated ‘Ops Lumpur’ operations to monitor compliance with the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan during construction earthworks to reduce flash flood risks in surrounding areas,” he said.
Dr Ab Halim also highlighted concerns regarding commercial development near Sungai Plong, pointing out a recent mudflow issue that had emerged over the past four months, which had not occurred previously.
Izham said the state government required the developer of the business park to build a detention pond to regulate surface water discharge from the site.
“This is to prevent adverse impacts and reduce the risk of flash floods in surrounding areas, particularly in Petaling district, which is downstream of Sungai Plong,” he said.
Izham added that Sungai Plong stretches across two districts – Gombak district upstream and Petaling district downstream – with the commercial development situated in the upstream section within Gombak.
