Activities Report Jul 2000 Newsletter

Stop Misusing the Klang River. 
        The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is concerned over the recent flash flood that affected families along the banks of the Klang River in Kg. Sg. Tepi and other parts of the city, and would like to express our humble sympathies to the victims.
        Contrary to what is expressed by some quarters, MNS feel that the JPS should not be solely blamed, as other factors also contribute to the flash floods. Firstly, it should be understood that the function of the JPS is not only limited to the deepening of river channels. It is that, and more. As custodian of the Klang Gates Dam, the JPS had to release excess water, causing the rivers to overflow, and causing floods. However, the alternative, a possible dam break, may be even worse.
       We should remember that excessive construction projects along the Klang River also contribute by discharging heavy sediment loads, raising riverbeds, and making them shallower.  Deepening of rivers may not be the solution, as full compliance to existing environmental mitigation plans are also necessary to reduce the sediment load. If not, river deepening exercises will simply be overwhelmed by sediment from construction activities.
       The abuse of river reserves is another issue. When they are supposed to be buffers against river erosion, our river reserves, instead, have been encroached for illegal settlements, developed, and converted to other uses and are no longer safe against water level rises. To add to the problems, our river reserves are not gazetted and the JPS therefore, do not have any legal authority for enforcement.
Kuala Lumpur, 12 May, 2000 

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Created on 5th Jul 2000