‘ Flash floods a thing of the past’

KUALA LUMPUR: Flash floods in the capital city will be a thing of the past once the RM4.4 billion River of Life project is completed next year, said Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The Natural Resources and Environment minister said the project will augment the existing Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) project and would help tackle the flood problems.

“City Hall also has a role to play. It must work with all stakeholders to upgrade the drainage system as most of it was built in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

“Climate change has played its part in causing flash floods, as the rain is heavier, longer lasting and even occurs in the dry season,” he said.

Wan Junaidi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak wanted a part of the project, the area near the confluence (of the Gombak and Klang rivers), to be launched on Aug 31 but that may not be possible.

Although the work has been completed, Wan Junaidi said there are still a few issues that need to be resolved.

“Part of the project involves widening and dredging of the river to increase its capacity, because the river’s shallowness and sedimentation are causing problems,” Wan Juanaidi told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the 37th World Congress of International Association for HydroEnvironment Engineering and Research.

He said the government was also working on tackling beach erosion nationwide and warned that if it was not done in the next few years, all the infrastructure near the beaches would be damaged.

The government is now better prepared to deal with floods as the Meteorological Department can provide a seven-day warning of weather patterns, Wan Junaidi said.