Don’t blame it on the rain

Floods have come back with a vengeance and have raised question on the worthiness of the city’s infrastructure. — Filepic

Authorities must take urgent steps to prevent floods from wreaking havoc in Seremban

THE sight of ominous dark clouds or a clap of thunder is enough to send a shiver down Harmeet Singh’s spine.

For the once self-proclaimed pluviophile, the sights and sounds that signal an impending deluge now make him shudder in fear.

Harmeet’s transformation from a die-hard lover of the rain to someone with almost chronic pluviophobia took place after the 51-year-old’s home in Kampung Singh, Seremban in Negri Sembilan, was hit by floods several times in recent months.

So bad were the floods that water marks and damage to his and surrounding houses are still visible.

The patio where the father of two used to relish the rain while sipping tea is now piled with damaged belongings that have been saved from previous floods and which the family is hoping to salvage.

Harmeet is not the only one in Seremban and its surrounding areas who have suffered massive losses due to floods over the past 20 months or so.

Grandmother Aini Amat, who lives in Kampung Semarak in Rahang, is also at her wit’s end as her home has been hit thrice in the past six months.

The 63-year-old received furniture and electrical appliances from well-wishers the last time her home was inundated but even these are now no longer usable after being damaged in last month’s floods.

Like Harmeet and Aini, thousands of households have been affected in recent months, with some occupants losing almost everything they own.

A majority of these victims are from the B40 and M40 groups, who are already struggling with the high cost of living and rising prices of goods.

One of the worst flooding episodes occurred in November 2020 when communities living along Sungai Linggi were so badly hit that they mulled taking legal action against the state government for alleged inaction.

Questions were asked, albeit sarcastically, if these recurring floods were a “special package” that came with the city status bestowed on Seremban earlier that year.

While it is true that the authorities have taken some flood mitigation measures in the months that followed, the latest incidents make it clear that a lot more needs to be done.

Laying the blame on Mother Nature and unusually high rainfall is no longer acceptable.

In the 1970s and 1980s, floods used to be a perennial problem in Seremban, especially the town centre.

But measures were taken then to widen and deepen rivers, upgrade drainage in some areas and divert rainwater to retention ponds.

After that was done, Seremban folk, especially those living along Sungai Temiang, Sungai Linggi and Sungai Batang Penar went about their daily lives without having to worry about rising floodwaters.

Now it appears as if the floods have come back with a vengeance, which raises questions about the state of the city’s infrastructure. Last month, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said to prevent floods, authorities would deepen several rivers flowing through the city at 10 locations.

When asked last week about the progress, Aminuddin said work had started in one or two areas and should commence in other areas soon.

With the heavens opening up every other day, the authorities cannot afford to drag their feet and must act swiftly to prevent another round of flooding.

They may not even have to fork out much as contractors can be allowed to take sand from the rivers in exchange for doing the clean-up.

The state had already done this when it allowed a company to remove flood-uprooted trees at Gunung Telapak Buruk in exchange for reopening a 14km road leading to the top of the hill several weeks ago.

That was a win-win and a similar exchange could be applied to those contracted to deepen the rivers.

The need is even more pressing now because in the latest round of flooding last month, areas which had never been inundated were also affected.

When queried on June 15, Aminuddin said investigations showed irresponsible developers had partly caused these incidents.

Most had failed to follow procedures when carrying out earthworks or building retention ponds to hold rainwater.

The Mentri Besar may have given an assurance that action will be taken against those responsible but what about losses incurred by flood victims?

These developers should be made to pay compensation or some form of ex-gratia payment to the flood victims.

The majority of the victims are from the lower-income group and are forced to rely on the goodwill of others to get back on their feet.

The widening and deepening of rivers should be done immediately and at regular intervals.

The state government can also seek federal funding for other projects such as reconstructing drainage systems and building storage tanks for rainwater.

This is crucial as the spillover effects from floods include damage to public infrastructure and private property, as well as temporary shutdowns of water treatment plants.

Aminuddin recently claimed that his administration had fulfilled 95% of all pledges made by the state Pakatan Harapan in its manifesto before the last general election.

But all these would not mean much to folk like Harmeet, who would surely like to once again enjoy his steaming cuppa and no longer have to call in the cavalry to help clear the mess left behind by floods.