DBKL IMPLEMENTS MEDIUM-TERM FLASH FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT AROUND PADANG MERBOK

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- The government, through Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), is implementing a medium-term flash flood mitigation project that adopts a more sustainable approach to prevent flash floods in the area around Padang Merbok.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the key component of the project is the construction of an approximately 3,000-square-metre On-site Detention (OSD) Tank in the area.

"During downpours, rainwater is contained first before being released in a controlled manner into Sungai Gombak, thereby reducing sudden overflows in dense urban areas.

"This project encompasses the upgrading of drains, construction of secondary drainage and realigning waterways to make them more efficient and safe,” she posted on Facebook today.

She added that the project is being implemented because existing drains cannot accommodate the high rainfall runoff, thus causing flash floods in Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, Jalan Tun Ismail, Persiaran Tun Ismail, Bulatan Dato’ Onn and surrounding areas.

She said the project is a critical piece of basic urban infrastructure to prevent flash floods, thereby protecting public safety, ensuring smooth traffic flow and guaranteeing the function of the country's core areas. 

She also emphasised that resilient cities are planned earlier and not after disasters occur.

Previously, Hannah said that Padang Merbok, one of the iconic public spaces in Kuala Lumpur city centre, was fully reopened to the public after the metal fence installed in August 2022 was taken down on Jan 14.

-- BERNAMA