Related agencies are on alert for the high tide expected from Oct 17 to 20 along Selangor’s coastline. — Filepic
SOME 600km of drains with “untraceable” owners will be cleaned up in a one-off initiative, thanks to a RM5mil allocation from the Selangor government.
The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) will carry out the cleanup over two phases – each covering 300km.
State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said Phase I was expected to start this month.
“The second phase will be carried out early November. DID will also clear the undergrowth in the drains.
“This is part of the state government’s preparation in view of the monsoon season,” he said during a press briefing on flood mitigation projects at Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.
Izham said those drains had not been maintained as there were no records.
“It is possible that some developers built them but did not properly hand over the drainage infrastructure to residents or the local authorities,” he said, adding that the state government would soon be checking who owned the land and the drains.
On another matter, Izham said the DID was mulling placing sandbags along the state’s coastline in anticipation of high tide from Oct 17 to 20.
The tide is expected to reach between 5.5m and 5.8m during the four-day period, he said.
“The placing of sandbags is among the temporary measures being considered.
“I have also held a meeting with DID and local councils to discuss flood preparations.”
On Oct 8, StarMetro reported of the high tide and concerns of it leading to floods in low-lying areas especially if it coincided with heavy rainfall.
