DPM: Address KL floods in comprehensive way
KUALA LUMPUR: Leave open areas and ponds alone. Their development will worsen the flood situation, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “We must look at the overall development density in the Klang Valley. This means that if there are places such as open areas and ponds and so forth, it is not proper to develop them.
“If they are developed, then we will be adding to the flood problem,” he told reporters after attending the “Anak Anak Pekan” Family Day here. Najib said the flood problems in Kuala Lumpur should be addressed in a comprehensive way.
“The SMART Tunnel can only solve part of the problem. We know that if water rises in Sungai Gombak, it can lead to problems. “However, various steps are being taken, including the building of 10 more retention ponds around Kuala Lumpur, increasing the number of pump stations and so forth,” he said. The SMART Tunnel’s flood channel component became operational on Saturday.
The road tunnel had been opened since mid-May. However, it is only capable of diverting 45% of floodwater from the city because it is designed to divert excess water from Sungai Klang. The problem of the remaining floodwaters from Sungai Gombak and Sungai Batu is expected to be solved once retention ponds and related flood diversions are ready in December.
On Saturday, Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Datuk Keizrul Abdullah said the RM2.1bil tunnel could help divert 90% of Sungai Klang waters from flood-prone areas such as Masjid Jamek and Dataran Merdeka. The waters would then be channelled into retention ponds before being dispersed into rivers in stages.
Last Monday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid had said that the flood problem was not easy to resolve despite the billions of ringgit spent because new development and drains and rivers due to rubbish thrown could result in flash floods.
Source : The Star
“If they are developed, then we will be adding to the flood problem,” he told reporters after attending the “Anak Anak Pekan” Family Day here. Najib said the flood problems in Kuala Lumpur should be addressed in a comprehensive way.
“The SMART Tunnel can only solve part of the problem. We know that if water rises in Sungai Gombak, it can lead to problems. “However, various steps are being taken, including the building of 10 more retention ponds around Kuala Lumpur, increasing the number of pump stations and so forth,” he said. The SMART Tunnel’s flood channel component became operational on Saturday.
The road tunnel had been opened since mid-May. However, it is only capable of diverting 45% of floodwater from the city because it is designed to divert excess water from Sungai Klang. The problem of the remaining floodwaters from Sungai Gombak and Sungai Batu is expected to be solved once retention ponds and related flood diversions are ready in December.
On Saturday, Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Datuk Keizrul Abdullah said the RM2.1bil tunnel could help divert 90% of Sungai Klang waters from flood-prone areas such as Masjid Jamek and Dataran Merdeka. The waters would then be channelled into retention ponds before being dispersed into rivers in stages.
Last Monday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid had said that the flood problem was not easy to resolve despite the billions of ringgit spent because new development and drains and rivers due to rubbish thrown could result in flash floods.
Source : The Star
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