SHAH ALAM – The rampant flash floods that hit Shah Alam and Klang have been occurring since before the construction of the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) project began in early 2017.
Selangor Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) director, Nasser Salim, said that one of the primary causes of flash floods in the state is the improper disposal of waste into drainage systems, unplanned land development, and the effects of global climate change.
“Disposing of waste into the drainage system reduces its capacity due to blockages that prevent rainwater from flowing into rivers,” he explained.
“Unplanned land development or changes also result in the existing drainage capacity being insufficient to handle the increased surface water runoff,” Nasser added in an exclusive interview with Scoop recently.
He made these remarks in response to criticisms blaming the LRT3 project for causing flash floods in Selangor.
Nasser said the LRT3 construction project had obtained the necessary approvals and included preparation of hydraulic and hydrological modelling reports for the proposed drainage system at construction sites.
He mentioned that these studies must consider water storage system designs, rainfall intensity, and peak discharge estimations to ensure water control measures are effective and that the development project does not cause future flooding.
“For any development, including the LRT3 and other projects, we require the developers to submit hydraulic and hydrological modelling reports,” he said.
He emphasised that the LRT3 project was no exception and had complied with these requirements, ensuring that the project’s water storage system designs were accounted for.
Nasser added that if developers adhere to the stipulated conditions, projects, including LRT3 construction, will proceed smoothly.
“If they follow the established conditions, there won’t be any issues with water pooling. If everyone complies, everything will go smoothly, God willing,” he said.
The LRT3, also known as the Shah Alam Line, is being developed to connect passengers from the western corridor of the Klang Valley, featuring 20 stations, and is expected to begin operations by March 2025.
This new facility is anticipated to benefit 74,000 commuters and 500,000 residents by improving connectivity and reducing traffic congestion in the affected areas, thereby enhancing the quality of life through reduced travel times and increased efficiency.
Nasser mentioned that DID Selangor is currently gathering information to identify the agency responsible for maintaining the drainage systems, whose custodianship remains unclear.
“There are drainage systems for which the owner is still unknown, whether it falls under the Public Works Department, JPS, or the municipal council. This is also a point of contention and sometimes causes issues regarding maintenance responsibilities.
“We have a committee chaired by the Infrastructure and Agriculture Executive Councillor, Izham Hashim, to address issues related to ambiguous drainage system responsibilities.
“We have started drafting information to determine the responsible agency. This will be decided by the committee and brought to the state government meeting for approval,” he said. – May 16, 2024