SHAH ALAM, July 23 — The state government will build a retention pond using German technology near Medan Selera 223 in Section 51A, Petaling Jaya, to overcome recurring floods there, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim.
He said the project, valued at RM4.55 million, will kick off in the next two weeks and will be done by year end.
He added that the pond employs ecoblocks to store a large amount of water in a smaller space, following the successful use of this method in Hulu Selangor previously.
“(The pond) is expected to be able to hold 3,200m3 of water to reduce flash floods at the food court,” he told a press conference today after a briefing about the project at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building here.
Also present was Petaling Jaya Mayor Dato’ Mohamad Zahri Samingon.
Izham explained that recurrent flash floods at Medan Selera 223 aren’t entirely caused by an ongoing development nearby, but also because of persistent, climate change-driven heavy rain that is overwhelming drains in the area.
“There are disrupting structures but they are not a major factor. When there is development and climate change, places that (usually) don’t flood will flood. Rain gets really heavy,” he said.
Last week, flash floods hit Medan Selera 223 for the third time this year, after incidents in April and May.
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) previously said the floods were due to rainfall exceeding 60mm in a short period from upstream Kuala Lumpur, causing Sungai Penchala to overflow and Sungai Klang to backflow.
