Activities Report Jul 2000 Newsletter
Flash Floods
The never-ending problem of
flash floods in Kuala Lumpur is both costly and inconvenient. It
also indicates problems with our system of drainage and our rivers.
There are many things involved in maintaining proper river systems
that can handle large unanticipated amounts of water. River deepening
is costly, time-consuming and unnecessary if care is taken to reduce entry
of silt into the river in the first place. That is why river buffer
zones which allow no development should be enforced throughout the length
of the river.
Another important aspect is the
protection and maintenance of watersheds and its natural forest and vegetation
cover. Forests acts as sponges that retain rainfall and releasing
them back slowly into the river during drought or normal times. Flood
mitigation infrastructures in flood prone urban areas need to be budgeted
into municipality annual development plan. Infrastructures such as bunding,
storm retention ponds, canals etc can help manage a greater drainage load.
The general public must also play their
part in reducing and controlling flash floods. How many of our gardens
are cemented directing all the rainwater into drains that flow into rivers
instead of seeping to the ground? Do we take care that rubbish goes
into their proper place and not thrown into drains and rivers? Very
often, broken and unused furniture or electrical appliances find their
way into rivers blocking water flow.
Once again, MNS urges
the government to develop a comprehensive integrated river basin management
plan where the rivers, natural wetlands and catchment forests are accorded
appropriate protection and management to reduce flooding. The public
too must respect the role of the river systems in providing environmental
services and stop treating it like a drain and rubbish dump.
Dato' Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor
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Created on 5th Jul 2000