Tan wants the earthcut drain replaced by U-shaped concrete culverts. — Photos: KK SHAM/The Star
RESIDENTS of Taman Teluk Pulai in Klang say that a monsoon drain at Leboh Sembilang 1 is causing backflow of water into the housing area.
Taman Teluk Pulai Residents’ Association member Gunarasa Sinnathurai said ever since it was completed in 2017, the drain would overflow and muddy water, measuring up to 25cm high, entered their houses.
The monsoon drain, behind their houses, was built during the construction of the Raja Muda Nala Bridge also known as Klang’s third bridge.
Gunarasa urged Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Engineering Department to look into the matter as about 100 houses were affected.
“A majority of us are senior citizens who find it difficult to clean up in the aftermath of the flooding,” he said.
The monsoon drain in Taman Teluk Pulai.
Lim Wei Ing, who lives at Jalan Sepat 1, said the monsoon drain was filled with silt and unable to cater to surface runoff.
“We feel the monsoon drain’s bad design is the reason water backflows.
“Complaints have been made to MPK but nothing has been done.
I hope the monsoon drain will be cleaned soon,” she added.
Tian Du Gong Deity Chinese Temple caretaker Tan Ee Kok said each time there was a downpour for more than half an hour, water would overflow from the 175m-long earthcut drain.
“The drain should be replaced with U-shaped concrete culverts for better water flow,” he said.
Vasantha showing how high floodwaters reach in her house.
Vasantha Devi Suppiah, who lives at Lorong Sepat 3, has to clean her house each time the monsoon drain overflows.
“Earlier, the rooms and kitchen used to be affected but I have raised the flooring by 10cm.
“Now, the living room gets flooded,” she said, adding that most of her furniture was damaged.
StarMetro noticed that most of the drain’s culverts were broken while some stretches needed to be desilted.
They also noticed that a 10m-tall banyan tree had taken root in the monsoon drain.
MPK Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin said the council would desilt the monsoon drain, remove vegetation in the earthcut drain and cut down the banyan tree.
MPK Engineering Department director Zamri Othman could not be reached for comment.
