The Star, Thursday September 6, 2012

Clogged trash screen at pump house caused Serdang floods

SERI KEMBANGAN: Rubbish clogging the trash screen of the Sg Kuyoh pump house here contributed to Tuesday's flash floods at Taman Sri Serdang.

Drainage and Irrigation Department pump operator Zulkafli Osthman, 41, said the pumps were started once heavy rains began.

“They can usually pump stormwater from the drains in a matter of minutes. But rubbish clogged the screen and water could not enter the pump house to be channelled into the river,” he said at the pump house behind SK Sri Serdang yesterday.

He said the trash rake used to clear rubbish stuck on the screen was malfunctioning and contractors had yet to repair it.

Dirty job: Pupils helping fireman Rozli Mohd Sirun clean one of SK Sri Serdang’s classrooms.

 

“I can't do anything until the rake is fixed. In the meantime, the local council must address the source of rubbish getting into drains,” said Zulkafli.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who visited SK Sri Serdang, said Sri Serdang was a natural low-lying area and was prone to flooding.

Meanwhile, overcast skies yesterday put a dampener on the clean-up work of Taman Sri Serdang residents.

The flash floods inundated more than 200 houses and 30 business premises with waist-high water, and residents were worried that more rain could bring more misery.

Rubbish clogging the trash screen at the Sg Kuyoh pump house.

 

Noor Mohamad Shakil Hameed, 35, said before this, floods went no higher than his knee.

“I raised the porch of my house to be one of the highest in the neighbourhood, but the water still made its way into my house,” he said.

SK Sri Serdang acting headmistress Norizan Ab Jabar, 56, said its pupils had the day off because the canteen, bookstore, sick room, art room and 20 teachers' cars were affected by the flood.

The school's afternoon supervisor Siti Hawa Husin, 55, said some pupils who did not know the school was closed ended up helping the teachers and firemen clean up the place.