Zamri: Upgrading work on the earth drain will start in May.
DESPITE Klang Municipal Council (MPK) having upgraded part of an earth drain to mitigate flash floods, some residents in Taman Gembira say a new problem has emerged.
Those living along Lorong Jambu Bol 2 off Jalan Mengkuang have complained that a newly built monsoon drain parallel to Lorong Turki 1 overflows with rainwater.
The residents think that water flow is hampered by three small cross culvert pipes that have not been widened in the mitigation project.
“Part of the monsoon drain in Lorong Turki 1 fills up with surface runoff water,” said a resident named Nellie, 65.
“On Nov 17 last year, the flash floods overwhelmed the earth drain at the end of Lorong Jambu Bol 2 that flows into the monsoon drain.
“I believe it was a backflow from the monsoon drain that caused the neighbourhood drains to overflow and water flooded our homes,” she said, adding that the flood water level was ankle-deep.
Nellie said she was forced to build a 0.3m barrier at the main entrance and back portion of her house to stop the water from flowing into her home and damaging the carpets and wooden furniture.
The distance between Lorong Jambu Bol 2 and Jalan Turki 1 is about 180m where the monsoon drain is built.
Another resident A. Denise, 60, said 18 houses in both rows along Lorong Jambu Bol 2 were inundated in ankle-deep flood waters in mid-December last year.
“Our residents provided feedback to MPK’s Engineering Department. We want the cross culverts removed and the outlets widened to allow smooth flow of water.
“We also want the earth drain at the end of the houses in Lorong Jambu Bol 2 to be upgraded to a concrete drain.
“This must be done soon to resolve the flash flood problem here,” she added.
Taman Gembira Rukun Tetangga Community chairman Dr Saravanan Ramachandran, 67, said the flash flood at Lorong Jambu Bol 2 was a big problem.
“We want MPK to look into this matter urgently for the well-being of the residents,” he added.
MPK Engineering Department director Zamri Othman said he was aware of the deluge that occurred in November and December last year, and the council had drawn up plans to upgrade the earth drain along Lorong Jambu Bol 2.
“We will start work in May to upgrade the 202.5m earth drain into a concrete drain with a width of 4.2m. Construction work will include widening the three cross culverts.
“We estimate construction work on the monsoon drain and cross culverts to be completed in January next year.
“One cross culvert leading to a few houses will be widened and the crossing will be rebuilt,” said Zamri.
Meanwhile, MPK’s Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Zainuddin said the council would desilt the monsoon drain and remove the wild vegetation in the earth drain at Lorong Jambu Bol 2 to ensure smooth flow of surface runoff.
