The Star, Tuesday October 23, 2012

Kajang council forms task force to deal with flooding

THE Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has set up a special task force in preparation for the inter-monsoon period.

Kajang is notorious for its flash floods such as the ones that occurred on Sept 4 this year and December last year.

Last month’s flood in Taman Sungai Segamat affected 41 houses and the heavy downpour and obstructed water flow in Sungai Segamat were cited as the causes.

MPKj engineering department head Md Noor Mahmud, the secretariat for the flood mitigation task force, said in Kajang, there have 20 to 30 rivers and streams such as Sungai Jelok, Sungai Ramal, Sungai Segamat and Sungai Semenyih.

“Half of the area is catchment for the Semenyih and Langat rivers.

“Due to fast development, we have to upgrade the existing retention ponds for flood mitigation,” he said.

Thirty-six flood-prone areas have been identified, such as Taman Indah Jaya, Batu 14; Kampung Batu 14, Hulu Langat; Kampung Batu 20 Sungai Lui, and Kampung Batu 16 Dusun Tua.

For immediate measures, the council has identified two flood-prone areas namely Sungai Segamat and Country Heights.

“Both areas involve developers. We have had discussions with the developer and residents’ associations.

“For Country Heights, there will be a diversion so that water from the drains will flow to Sungal Ramal Dalam, bypassing the railway line,” he said.

For long term remedies, the council will look into the drainage plans in Kajang.

“We have submitted data of drains in Kajang and we hope the Federal Government can approve the Malaysian Road Records Inventory System (Marris) grants.

“The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) will be deepening Sungai Langat,” he said.

He added, “We do not have a rescue team for now. In case of emergencies, we will mobilise our road gang and the Health Services Department will provide the manpower.

“We will also have help from the Public Service Department and Rela,” he said.