Two retention ponds to be built to alleviate Johor flood woes

The Star 27 Mar 08;

Ong said the floods had been occurring for the past 20 years but became a serious issue in the last 10 years due to development projects as the basic infrastructure could not handle the water flow.

JOHOR BARU: Two retention ponds and a water diversion system will be built to help alleviate the flood problems in Kulai.

Kulai MP Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said these were among the immediate measures to be taken to resolve the floods issue plaguing residents of Batu 21 in Kulai for the past 10 years.

The latest floods on Monday affected some 72 businesses and homes, particularly in Taman Nam Tat here, and caused substantial losses.

The retention ponds are to slow the water flow.

“The first retention pond will handle 50% of the water and is expected to be completed by July this year while the second one will handle the remaining half. This is still in the planning stages” he said, adding that the Drainage and Irrigation Department would implement the projects.

Ong, who visited the flood-hit areas yesterday, said the first retention pond cost about RM2.64mil, while the cost of the second one, which would be larger, had not been determined.

The MCA president said the Public Works Department and Kulai Municipal Council would clean drains in the area to ensure that rubbish did not block the water flow.

“We will also ask Tenaga Nasional Berhad to handle the problems caused by the company’s cables which are blocking some of the drains.

“I will have a meeting with TNB and other agencies on Monday to discuss the matter further,” he said.

He stressed that the cooperation of the relevant agencies was vital to solve the problem.

Ong said the floods had been occurring for the past 20 years but became a serious issue in the last 10 years due to development projects as the basic infrastructure could not handle the water flow.

“The floods has caused a lot of hardship for businesses and a lot of financial loss,” he said.

He added that he would work hard with agencies to come up with further ways to improve the drainage system.