By Zareef Muzammil
PETALING JAYA, Sept 17 — The state government wants the Selangor Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) to speed up the flood mitigation plan (RTB) project in hotspot localities, in preparation for untoward incidents.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said projects, which are focused on Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam, Jalan Meru in Klang, and Sungai Damansara in Petaling Jaya will commence as early as January next year to November, with a RM700 million allocation.
“If possible, the state government wants to expedite the related projects since the allocations have already been set aside. It is only the procurement process which takes time.
“To continue planning brings about the worry of creating controversy, but we believe it is crucial to hasten the RTB, in light of the recent warnings of high rainfall,” he said.
Amirudin was speaking at the officiation of the World River Day celebration on the state level, at Taman Eko Ara Damansara (TEAD), earlier today.
Also in attendance were Selangor State Secretary Datukaris Kasim, Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim, and Selangor JPS director Mohamad Nazif Daud.
In another development, the Menteri Besar said the state government has always prioritised the sustainability of rivers in Selangor so their functions can be improved upon from time to time.
“In total, almost every two to three months we will obtain water quality reports from seven basins, ranging from Sungai Bernam to Sungai Langat, along 761.503 km with an area of 8,576.19 km per square feet.
“But Sungai Klang remains one of the areas which cannot be used as a water source, since its quality level still stands at Class Three,” he said.
