By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Sept 10 — The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has requested the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to inspect two retention ponds under its purview, so as to prevent flooding.
Its Deputy Mayor Cheremi Tarman said the ponds in Ara Damansara and in Taman Saujana Indah, TTDI Jaya, which were constructed in 2006, should be able to effectively store water whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
“We are seeking assistance from DID to review these two large retention ponds, so they can function as intended. During heavy rain, water will enter these ponds.
“They are supposed to hold excess water to prevent it from flowing downstream. For example, if it rains in Kota Damansara, the water there should be held in these ponds,” he said at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam earlier today.
Speaking to the press at the Shah Alam Car-Free Day programme, Cheremi added several flood mitigation projects are currently underway as part of the Shah Alam Flood Action Plan (SASuD), including widening and replacing drains in Taman Sri Muda, Section 25.
There are also plans to increase the pumping capacity in Taman Sri Muda and raise the riverbanks along Sungai Damansara and Stadium Shah Alam.
“Up to the present, we have implemented part of what has been planned, and there are also projects in the final phase to be tendered and awaiting contractor appointments.
“Adjustments will be made between MBSA and DID, to ensure the works proceed according to schedule to reduce the floods’ impact,” he said.
On December 9 last year, state executive councillor for infrastructure Izham Hashim said MBSA would be the first local authority in Malaysia to implement an integrated flood mitigation plan, via SASuD.
Its first phase included 30 projects, while the second phase involved 19 projects to be implemented within three years, with four projects initiated in Taman Sri Muda.
