SHAH ALAM, Oct 8 — The drainage system along Jalan Kuala Selangor-Kepong (FT54) near the Sungai Buloh KTM station must be upgraded promptly to address recurring floods there, said Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo.
He also suggested a temporary retention pond be built to handle runoff from more elevated areas, according to The Star.
“This is a safety issue we must resolve immediately; we can’t wait one or two years because we won’t know when it will rain heavily.
“We don’t want this situation to cause (property) damage or the loss of life,” he said.
In April, Sungai Gasi overflowed after heavy rain, inundating the FT54 route near the Sungai Buloh KTM station with waters up to 0.6m.
Gobind said the capacity of existing drains isn’t enough, and several drains are damaged and eroded.
Meanwhile, Selangor Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) assistant director Muhammad Zakwan Fikri Mohd Hasnan said effective floodwalls have been built along Sungai Gasi.
“But runoff from higher elevated areas is still causing flooding along FT54,” Zakwan said.
Gobind added that technical proposals to overcome the issue have been submitted, but funding and execution means haven’t been decided as it comes under the purview of Selangor JPS, Petaling Public Works Department (JKR) and the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC).
“A meeting with the agencies concerned and Transport Ministry representatives will be held this week to decide short-, medium- and long-term measures, including timeframes, costs, and agencies responsible.
“It is hoped that a solution can be reached next week so upgrades and repairs can be done as soon as possible, (as) cleanup and short-term measures currently underway aren’t solving the root of the problem,” Gobind said.
