Flash floods: City Hall to build RM40m retention ponds

PETALING JAYA: At least RM40 million is being sought by the Federal Territories Ministry to build two retention ponds to overcome flooding woes in Kuala Lumpur.

FT Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the two proposed ponds are to be built in Pantai Dalam and Jalan Duta, costing the government between RM30 million and RM40 million, Malay Mail reported today.

The proposal was submitted following last Thursday’s flash floods, the causes of which have been identified by City Hall, who will present their findings to the Cabinet soon.

Tengku Adnan attributed the floods to a mud-filled retention basin at Universiti Malaya and existing drains that were unable to cope with the heavy rainfall.

The UM retention basin was found to be filled with mud due to heavy development work at the university, and was as such unable to accommodate much water.

The first step for City Hall, said Tengku Adnan, was to obtain permission from UM to clean the pond.

He stressed however that the city’s drainage system was also unable to cope with the exceptionally heavy rainfall last Thursday, which averaged over 80mm per hour.

Mail Mail also reported that lawyers have said those who suffered losses from the floods can sue local councils and other authorities.

More than 100 cars were damaged last week due to rising waters and traffic congestion in several major roads in the city, including Jalan Pantai Baru and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim.

“If City Hall, for example, did not take any action to prevent flooding and allowed it to recur, then the public has the right to sue them for negligence,” the paper quoted lawyer K Ragunath as saying.

The former Malaysian Bar president said flood victims could seek advice from the council’s legal aid centre on how to initiate suits against the involved parties.

Ragunath said that this was also contingent on reports by experts to determine the floods’ causes.

“The report should identify the parties responsible and delve into what steps could have been taken or were not taken,” Ragunath said, adding that Malaysians should invest in insurance coverage to protect themselves from such losses.

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