(Left) The retention pond will be built on 2ha beside the Grand Sepadu Highway in Taman Mutiara Bukit Raja, Klang. — Photos: KK SHAM/The Star
CONSTRUCTION of a RM7.3mil flood retention pond on part of the Grand Sepadu Highway bordering Taman Mutiara Bukit Raja in Klang is expected to begin this month.
Caretaker Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said this during the ground-breaking ceremony for the project off Jalan Cokmar 2.
He said the project was delayed as the land was owned by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
“This is the first time we are using land belonging to LLM to build a retention pond in Selangor.
Izham says Selangor has about 600 flood retention ponds, including some which are underground.
“Our initial plan was to use land at Jalan Cokmar 2 but it was not viable.
“I then noticed this oval-shaped land along the Grand Sepadu Highway, but it took time as approval involved various authorities,” he explained.
Izham said Selangor government had allocated RM7,277,200 for the project to alleviate flooding at Taman Mutiara Bukit Raja and its surrounding areas, including the highway.
The retention pond is being built on 2ha land with a depth of 1.7m and is expected to be completed in 24 months.
Five pumps will be installed to channel surface run-off into monsoon drains, with water eventually flowing into Sungai Kapar Kecil.
The project is being handled by the state Drainage and Irrigation Department, said Izham, highlighting that the construction of retention ponds were needed to address floods due to rapid urbanisation.
“An estimated 600 retention ponds have been built in Selangor, with some underground,” he added.
