RM85m to Tackle Flood Woes in KL

[New Straits Times] Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 - The Kuala Lumpur City Hall has allocated RM85 million for drainage improvement and maintenance of rivers next year under  its 2012 budget.

Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said of the amount, RM4.25 million will be put aside to improve river embankments.

He said that work was ongoing for sedimentation treatment, garbage collection and repair works on collapsed river embankments.

"We will be constructing nine flood mitigation projects next year in the crucial areas," said Fuad at the unveiling of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall 2012 budget here yesterday.

Under the budget, three new flood retention ponds will be built at Intan Baiduri, Kepong, and near Pasar Borong, Selayang.

Meanwhile, floodwater pump houses would also be built at Kampung Baru and Kampung Kasipillay.

Plans are also underway for more monsoon drains in Sungai Besi, Kampung Pandan, and the Royal Selangor Golf and Country Club.

Currently, flood retention ponds at Kampung Bohol in Puchong and Universiti Malaya are being built.

Meanwhile, the troubled Sungai Bunus, one of the main rivers in the city centre here has been cleaned up after overflowing its banks, causing flash floods in the city centre last week.

However, there have been irresponsible quarters throwing rubbish into the river, impeding clean-up efforts, said Federal Territory Drainage and Irrigation Department director Mat Rahim Ismail.

"DID and City Hall had been working hard to remove debris and rubbish after the flash flood episode last week. we would like to advise people to refrain from dumping into the river."

He said the city folk should be more civic-minded as the actions of certain irresponsible quarters could bring disaster to the city.

He said besides more retention ponds to reduce the flow into the water, his department was considering installing log booms along the river to collect rubbish.

Dredging works to deepen the river is expected to start next month.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, flash floods in the city centre had brought traffic to a standstill after the river overflowed because of heavy rain.

Many areas were inundated and these included Jalan Semarak, Kampung Baru, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Sultan Ismail.

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