KUALA LUMPUR — More reservoirs will be built to mitigate floods in urban areas, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said today, after the city was paralysed by flash floods this morning.
Reservoirs are part of the government’s short and long-term flood mitigation plans to reduce flash floods, especially in the capital, Bernama quoted him saying after attending the Asia New Economic Summit 2024 here today.
“The plan is already in place. It’s just that we plan according to the available financial capabilities and we implement what we have as much as possible,” he told reporters.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said most of the water reservoirs will be built in Kuala Lumpur under the supervision of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“There are ongoing projects. But there is one project involving design and contractor problems and this affects our planning. We have to see how our recovery plan is to speed up any project that is delayed due to contractor failure,” he said.
An unusually high and continuous rainfall from 8.30 am this morning in Kuala Lumpur caused major rivers, including Sungai Batu, Sungai Klang, and Sungai Gombak, to overflow, which led to flooding in several areas.
According to DBKL today, 60mm of rain was recorded during this time, which was well above average.
Meanwhile, DBKL said rainfall readings taken at the city centre showed over 114 millimetres (mm) per hour, almost double the normal reading of 60mm per hour.
Affected areas included Jalan Pantai Baharu, Jalan Parlimen (Dato Onn Roundabout), Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Travers, Jalan Damansara (below the Semantan flyover), Jalan Ledang, Jalan Segambut, Jalan Genting Klang (opposite Shell and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman), Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Sultan (Petaling Street).
“Traffic was diverted to ensure smoother traffic flow. As of 10.45 am, all main routes in the city centre have been opened, except Jalan Rahmat. DBKL has also activated two static pumps in Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,” DBKL said in a statement.
DBKL also said that it had brought in three mobile pumps to drain the stagnant water around the Dato Onn roundabout, which was flooded, and that the situation returned to normal at 9.18 am.
“DBKL has completed clean-up works around Jalan Parlimen while Jalan Sultan is still being cleaned up.
“Based on the proactive measures taken by DBKL, a majority of the affected areas were under control and the stagnant water subsided after 30 minutes,” it added.
DBKL, however, advised road users to be cautious when passing through areas where the water levels have not fully subsided.
Many commuters were stuck at train stations or caught in traffic due to the morning’s flash floods. The Dewan Rakyat session today was even delayed by half an hour to 10.30am to give more time to MPs to reach Parliament. – October 15, 2024