Drainage System Spot Checks Intensified to Prevent Flash Floods in KL – Hannah

PUTRAJAYA: Surprise inspections, or spot checks, of drainage systems and cleaning operations in Kuala Lumpur are being intensified to ensure drains remain free from blockages, thereby reducing the risk of flash floods, particularly during the rainy season.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the inspections must be carried out comprehensively, including during the dry season, to ensure cleaning work is properly conducted and drainage systems function effectively.

She said roads that appear clean do not necessarily indicate that drainage systems are in good condition, as water channels may be clogged without anyone noticing.

“That is why, before the rainy season, during the dry season, we have already reminded everyone that we must conduct spot checks and ensure cleaning work is carried out properly. Sometimes, the roads look clean, but the drains may be clogged,” she told reporters after officiating the Community-Based Eco Recycling Hub (COB3R) in Precinct 9 here today.

Hannah said parliamentary constituency offices had also been mobilised, with teams conducting patrols and providing the Kuala Lumpur Mayor with the latest reports on areas at risk of flash floods.

She said active monitoring was crucial to ensure that the number of flash flood hotspots, which had been reduced from 30 to 14 over the past three years, did not increase again.

“Over the past three years, we have reduced the number of hotspots from 30 to 14. Our aim in Kuala Lumpur is to bring that number down further to 10,” she said.

Meanwhile, Hannah said the frequency of cleaning and desilting works along Sungai Toba had also been increased from twice to six times a year as part of efforts to reduce the risk of flash floods.

She said changing weather patterns and unusually heavy rainfall required authorities to reassess existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and strengthen disaster preparedness.

“With the current weather conditions and rainfall patterns, we cannot rely on conventional SOPs. We must be prepared,” she said.

She added that Kuala Lumpur’s development planning must also incorporate the sponge city approach by preserving open spaces and green areas to help absorb rainwater.

She said development in hilly areas must be strictly controlled to ensure that their natural capacity to absorb and retain rainwater is not compromised.

“You cannot replace these green areas with concrete. Water simply needs space to flow,” she said.

BERNAMA