Floods blamed on new projects

> Taman Sin Tat residents claim structures obstruct drainage system

BUTTERWORTH: More than 20 families in Taman Sin Tat here are blaming new development projects for flash floods occurring in the area.

They claimed that the new buildings caused the drains to be clogged and obstruct water from flowing out.

A spokesman for the 20 families, Choong Siat Foong, 71, said they did not suffer serious flooding prior to the construction of two buildings at Lorong Perniagaan Melur 1.

Choong, who has been staying at Medan Melur Selatan for 50 years, said before the buildings were completed, the water just entered their car porch and receded fast after the rain stopped.

“But now, we have been suffering from the flash floods, with the water rising until it is knee-high.

“The most serious flash flood we have faced was last month, with the water level going over our knees.

“The buildings have blocked the drainage system. They need to be corrected to allow the water to flow through.”

Choong told a press conference that the state government or Seberang Perai Municipal Council should take the matter seriously.

“We need them to assist us to settle the flood problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, USM River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (Redac) director, Prof Dr Nor Azazi Zakaria said Tasik Aman and Tasik Harapan at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) campus have the potential to help solve flood problems, dirty water resources and inadequate water supply faced by the population in the vicinity, Bernama reported.

He said the two lakes, that connected to Sungai Gambir, could help address various problems in the surrounding area.