Lai (right) and Baskaran checking structures erected by business owners.
CLOGGED drains and illegal structures built over them are believed to have contributed to flash floods in three hotspots in Jinjang Utara, Kuala Lumpur.
During a site visit, authorities found some of the drains in Jalan Benteng Timur, Jalan Benteng Utara and Jalan Jinjang Setia 6 were blocked.
Representatives from the office of Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Federal Territory Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) found water flow to a monsoon drain obstructed.
At Jalan Benteng Timur, parts of the drains were blocked by mud and debris, while some residents had illegally built concrete ramps over drains.
Several car repair shops had also placed machinery on top of the drains.
At Jalan Benteng Utara, an eatery had constructed illegal structures over drains while at Jalan Jinjang Setia 6, soil and mud had clogged the drainage system.
Just before the site visit, several Alam Flora workers were seen clearing mud from drains along Jalan Jinjang Setia 6.
SWCorp enforcement senior assistant Baskaran Pillay Subramaniam, who led the visit, said improper structures were causing flash floods.
“This is in addition to blockages inside and over the drains, which have hindered water from flowing out of the neighbourhoods to the monsoon drain.
“Some parts of the drain structure are not level, resulting in stagnant water,” he noted.
Alam Flora workers clearing out a drain along Jalan Jinjang Setia 6.
Lim’s aide Dic Lai, who was present during the visit, said he was awaiting the full report from SWCorp before applying to DBKL for rectification works.
“The situation on Jalan Benteng Timur has persisted for over two decades and whenever there is a downpour, it floods.
“It is slightly tricky along Jalan Benteng Timur, as the road itself marks the boundary between Kepong and Batu constituencies.
“The stretch of shops and houses with illegal structures over drains is located in Batu constituency,” he said.
Lai agreed to liaise with both DBKL branch offices on the issue, and said he would also write to DBKL to revoke the eatery operator’s licence and remove illegal structures on Jalan Benteng Utara.
“As for Jalan Jinjang Setia 6, some irresponsible residents have used fabric mats to cover the grassy patch of road reserve beside the drain to prevent the growth of grass.
“Their reason is that tall grass attracts pests. But by doing so, the grass cannot grow and the soil becomes loose.
“This has resulted in soil falling into the drain, causing blockages,” he said.
Lai also urged Alam Flora workers to report to the relevant departments if drain cleaning efforts could not be carried out, so that rectification could be made before the situation worsened.
