Selangor to review approved projects, tighten flood mitigation requirements in high-risk areas

 

KUALA SELANGOR, Nov 6  — The Selangor state government will order a review of previously approved development projects to ensure that flood mitigation systems are implemented in high-risk areas.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari saId this measure is part of the state government’s efforts to reduce flood risks and prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the affected areas.

“I will request a review of all approvals we have granted, including imposing a requirement for developers to construct temporary water retention facilities; we certainly do not want them to carry out the work in a shoddy or substandard manner,” he said.

He made these remarks when met after inspecting a retention pond site at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Alam campus here today.

Amirudin added that the state government has also identified several other issues contributing to flooding in areas such as Johan Setia, Parit Mahang, Bukit Kuching, and Bukit Hijau.

He saId identified issues include acts of vandalism along the embankments of the Sungai Buloh 1 Flood Mitigation Scheme (RTB) where the structures have been lowered below their original specifications as well as water overflow originating from the West Coast Expressway (WCE).

“I have requested that the vandalism issue be addressed immediately. We will take action against illegal operations in the area, and several demolition exercises will have to be carried out.

“These demolitions are necessary to gazette the sites as water catchment areas or floodplains two locations have already been identified for this purpose. The process will be executed by the District and Land Office in collaboration with the local authorities,” he said.

Meanwhile, addressing the case of a local mosque that frequently experiences flooding despite not being situated near a river, Amirudin noted that his administration would consult with the mosque’s management to discuss either raising the structure or relocating the place of worship to a more suitable site.

He explained that this occurs because the area is low-lying and receives overflow from the Subang River.

“This is overflow from the Subang River, which flows toward Merbau Sempak, eventually reaching the Sungai Buloh river system and arriving here. Ultimately, the water seeks an outlet to the sea but there is no sea here so the nearest coastline is in Kuala Selangor.

“This has long been the natural movement of water; runoff from Gombak or Petaling tends to flow toward the Ijok or Kuala Selangor areas and this has been the established pattern for a long time,” he said. — Bernama