Photo : The Star
MERU residents will have to wait a little longer before the flash flood situation in the town is rectified.
The Klang District Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) said the RM11mil flood mitigation project would only be completed next year.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) corporate communications head Norfiza Mahfiz toldStarMetro that the council was briefed by Klang DID engineer Mohd Nazri Yasmin that the project which started on Jan 14 would be completed by January next year.
She said the project, called Package 1 Persiaran Hamzah Alang, included deepening and upgrading Sungai Binjai and the construction of concrete walls to prevent flash floods.
“The upgrading works will be carried out along Sungai Binjai, covering a 6.9km stretch from Meru to Kapar.
“It includes the construction of 1.5km concrete wall to help prevent flash floods,” she said.
Norfiza added that they were told that the project would also involve replacing several bridges built by villagers and smallholders.
The bridges are said to have contributed to the flash floods as they were built below the flood level.
“The bridges not only obstructed the flow of rainwater but caused a backflow.
“The project has been delayed due to protests from private stakeholders who do not want the bridges replaced,’’ she said, adding that the council had been informed that DID was in the process of resolving the issue.
On the recent flash floods that rocked Meru town including Bandar Bukit Rajah, Taman Aman Perdana and Klang Utama, Norfiza said ongoing development projects along Jalan Meru combined with high tide had led to the situation.
The poor maintenance of monsoon drains had also contributed to the flash floods.
She said MPK wanted the Public Works Department to check the condition of monsoon drains.
“Clogged monsoon drains worsen the flood situation,” she said.
On June 18, StarMetro reported that flash floods had caused hardship to thousands of Meru residents.
Source: The Star
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