SHAH ALAM, April 13 — Five out of 13 flood mitigation plan projects in Klang are expected to be completed before September this year, according to the Selangor Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS).
The Star reported its director Dato' Mohd Nazri Yasmin as saying that the remaining eight projects are scheduled for phased completion between the end of 2027, early 2029, and the end of 2031.
“The five projects include the construction of a culvert crossing beneath the KTM Bhd railway track near Taman Melawis, extending to Lorong Sembilang 8E, opposite the Klang District Public Works Department.
“Other projects include a flood retention pond and pump house in Taman Mutiara (Bukit Raja), works at Sungai Kembong (Pulau Indah), mechanical works for the pump house at Jalan Papan, as well as the upgrading of coastal bunds in Kampung Sungai Serdang and Kampung Tok Muda in Kapar,” he said.
Nazri added that drainage systems must be continuously updated, as the older infrastructure was built based on historical rainfall data, whereas climate change and rapid urbanisation have led to more frequent extreme rainfall events.
“Climate change has also resulted in more frequent and heavier short-duration rainfall, causing drainage networks to become overloaded and leading to localised flooding. Flood mitigation projects that account for climate change, along with more climate-resilient drainage designs, are needed to improve overall effectiveness.
“Taking rainfall intensity influenced by climate change into consideration is not new, but greater emphasis is now being placed on it in the design of flood mitigation projects in Selangor. Climate change, the latest rainfall data and trends of increasing rainfall intensity are among the elements incorporated into flood mitigation models,” he said.
In this vein, the Selangor JPS also considers current land use and future projections within catchment areas to ensure more effective drainage systems.
Nazri noted that drainage and river capacity studies are conducted based on land use plans to ensure infrastructure such as rivers, retention ponds, and drainage systems can accommodate future water flows.
Alongside conventional engineering solutions, the Selangor JPS is also promoting nature-based approaches in flood management.
“Our key approaches include preserving and restoring mangrove forests in coastal areas, as they act as natural barriers against storms and seawater surges.
“Mangrove forests also help safeguard water catchment areas and natural river zones, support natural rainwater absorption, and allocate space for natural retention areas and floodplains in land use planning,” he said.
