MBSA enforcement staff blocking off one of the main roads into Kampung Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam during the floods on Wednesday. — Courtesy photo
THE knee-high floods that hit parts of Kampung Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam, Selangor, on Wednesday was due to rubbish choking two drainage outlets, which caused water to overflow to low-lying areas.
Shah Alam mayor Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said continuous rain from 3pm to 6pm, coupled with the clogged drains led to overflow of surface runoff.
He said about 350 houses were inundated, with 168 people affected and 37 forced to move to temporary shelters at Dewan JKKK Kampung Batu 7 Jalan Kebun and Dewan Masjid An-Naim.
“Blockage at two drainage outlets at Jalan Kebun Barat and Jalan Sakawi had caused the drains to overflow.
“To make matters worse, unauthorised concrete culverts built along the drainage route also hampered the water flow,” he said after the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) full board meeting.
Mohd Fauzi wants DID to remove the rubbish and silt in the blocked drains.
Mohd Fauzi said MBSA would convene a meeting with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) as the drainage network in Kampung Jalan Kebun was under the purview of the agency.
“Our engineers are keen to resolve the flood issue but we need to work with DID.
“It involves various factors that include drainage alignments, consistent maintenance and disposal of plastic rubbish.
“Compounding the issue was small outlets that could not clear the surface runoff fast enough, resulting in a backflow into the low-lying area,” he said.
He added that two drainage outlets at Jalan Kebun Barat and Jalan Sakawi that emptied into Sungai Kandis and Kampung Lombong monsoon drain needed to be upgraded to allow faster water flow.
“Our immediate suggestion to DID is to remove the rubbish and silt in the drain that led to the blockage.
“Some of the concrete culverts at certain junctures are too small and must be removed, with new ones built to cater to the volume of water,” said Mohd Fauzi.
Earlier this week, the Meteorological Department announced that the monsoon transition phase, which began on Sept 24, was expected to last until early November.
It warned that storms during the transitional phase typically result in heavy rainfall and strong winds over a short period, particularly during the late afternoon and early evening.
