PETALING JAYA: A delegation comprising members of the Special Select Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Communication visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Underground Discharge Channel on Thursday (Sept 28).
Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who was part of the delegation, said the channel, a 6.3km tunnel 50m underground, is one of the largest in the world and takes in overflow from several small to mid-size rivers.
"Construction of the channel began in 1993 and it was fully completed in June 2006. It directs water from the Oootoshifurutone River into the Edogawa River," the MCA president said in a Facebook post Thursday.
Dr Wee said the delegation learnt how the channel was built to address frequent flooding in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is prone to heavy rainfall and typhoons.
"Since its inception, the tunnel has been used 143 times, or an average of seven times a year. It has successfully prevented floods within the fully developed lower basin," he said in his post.
He added that the impressive part of the structure was its chambers, which feature dramatic columns and walkways, which are an architectural marvel.
Dr Wee also said the delegation was led by Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abd Wahab and included Klang MP V. Ganabatirau, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah and Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin.
