Flash flooding along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in the city on Thursday (Feb 22) evening. - Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has identified 14 more flash flood hotspots around the capital and is taking immediate measures, including speeding up mitigation projects, to overcome the issue.
The hotspots include Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Peel, Jalan Dutamas, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Genting Kelang (near UTAR and Shell), Lorong Titiwangsa 11, Jalan Pahang Barat, and Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said.
She expressed confidence that DBKL would be able to tackle and reduce the impact of flash floods through similar measures taken at 25 previously identified hotspots.
"Yesterday, only one of the 25 hotspots flooded, which means what DBKL has been doing so far has improved in terms of prevention and reducing flood risks.
"The areas hit by floods and landslides where there haven’t been mitigation projects are now potentially new hotspots. We are studying the best immediate measures that can be taken to overcome it,” she told Bernama on Friday (Aug 23).
Seven areas around the capital were hit by flash flooding, including the Segambut Bypass, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Genting-Klang, Jalan Dutamas, Jalan Kepong, and Jalan Kuching.
Maimunah, who just took over as mayor on Thursday (Aug 22), said that they have intensified periodic maintenance of the Onsite Stormwater Detention Pond, rivers, and main drains, especially with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon as preventive measures.
Additionally, deepening work at the pond is being carried out according to current needs and the set schedule, along with upgrading the roadside drainage system.
"Climate change is a challenge in overcoming this problem. Previously, August wasn’t the rainy season, but now it’s all changed,” she said.
Maimunah shared that DBKL will strengthen cooperation with the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) through the existing task force to ensure rivers, especially those prone to flooding, are given proper attention and can cope with the extra water.
"We will map out the flood areas and not only look for an immediate solution, but a medium and long-term one as well,” she said, adding that they are proposing that new project developers use the Environmentally Friendly Drainage Manual 2.0 and a sustainable urban drainage system like the Bio-Ecology Drainage System (Bioecods).
DBKL will also ensure that its enforcement teams are ready and will use its CCTV network to continuously monitor situations to ensure that immediate actions are taken and traffic congestion is reduced.
Maimunah also said that DBKL had carried out 1,488 inspections on risky trees since 2019 using certified arborists to identify any action required to avoid trees falling.
"A total of 270 trees were cut down. For the next phase, 240 risky trees around Kuala Lumpur are being inspected by the arborist,” she said, adding that DBKL had appointed 21 contractors to maintain trees for a period of two years.
DBKL would also plant trees better suited for urban environments and the Malaysian weather, including those which are rain-resistant and can be maintained properly to ensure public safety. – Bernama
