SELANGOR has approved RM800,000 for immediate flood-mitigation works around the i-City junction in Shah Alam and Taman Rashna, Klang, following several flood incidents in recent weeks.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the works, which would include the use of pumps, were expected to be completed as early as December.
“We hope these immediate projects can address flooding at the i-City junction, Taman Rashna and the surrounding areas.
“I have asked the relevant state agencies to identify the usual (flood) locations so that we can be prepared for the monsoon transition period, which began on Oct 27.”
He said the state spent RM40mil on “quick-win” flood mitigation projects last year.
“These quick-win projects have managed to prevent flooding at several locations,” he said after attending the Selangor Nutrition Programme (NutriSel and Mega NutriSel) at Sekolah Rendah Agama Integrasi Seksyen 19 in Shah Alam yesterday.
The latest approval follows repeated flash floods around i-City, Section 7 and Taman Rashna last month.
On Oct 28, flash floods hit Jalan Keluli 1C near i-City for the second consecutive day following heavy rain, while flooding along the Federal Highway near i-City a day earlier caused severe traffic congestion.
Following the floods, Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said mitigation works would be carried out in Taman Rashna, i-City, Section 7 Shah Alam and Bandar Bukit Raja in Klang.
The measures would include pumps to address recurring flash floods in those areas, he said.
Izham said the flooding was believed to be linked to the absence of a water gate leading to Sungai Rasah.
Other measures being considered include a detention pond in Taman Rashna as well as works to deepen and upgrade drainage along the Federal Highway.
Shah Alam mayor Datuk Zabidah Safar was reported as saying that the proposal was discussed at a multi-agency coordination meeting chaired by Izham last week.
She said the flooding was mainly caused by Sungai Rasah overflowing into a drain managed by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), which ran alongside the Federal Highway before discharging into Sungai Klang.
High tides, which raise Sungai Klang’s water levels, can overwhelm the main drain and cause water to flow back into surrounding low-lying areas, she added.
Zabidah said Shah Alam City Council has also carried out drainage works near i-City, including constructing scupper drains, installing flap gates and clearing obstructions.
Separately, the Federal Government has approved another RM40mil for longer-term flood mitigation works covering Bukit Raja and i-City. The works are currently at the design stage.
