Reducing risk of flooding in PJ

The Star

a day ago

(From left) Lim, Nalina and Nalina's assistant Mohd Aslam Ahmad Ramli at the upgraded monsoon drain and new walkway behind Sea Park Apartment in Section 21, Petaling Jaya.
RESIDENTS living behind Sea Park Apartment in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, can now look forward to improved slope stability and flood protection following the completion of a RM5.3mil monsoon drain upgrade.
The 16-month project by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) was carried out after several minor landslides occurred along the drain over the years.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said the works were aimed at stabilising the drain embankments to prevent soil erosion and collapse, as well as reducing flood risk in the Section 19 industrial area (particularly at the downstream point of Jalan 19/1 towards Sungai Penchala).
It would also provide easier access for monsoon drain cleaning and maintenance, she said.
'Slope vulnerabilities had caused minor landslides along the monsoon drain, bringing down walls of several houses in Jalan 21/9. The last incident was in March 2022.
'While MBPJ rectified these incidents as they occurred, our office felt it was necessary to pursue a long-term solution for safety,' she said during a site visit with MBPJ Zone 19 councillor Nalina Nair.
Upgrading works which started on Sept 15, 2023, involved installation of a 280m-long U-shaped drain, 521m-long box culvert drain, and velocity reduction structures.
The works were completed on Jan 29 this year.
The project also included the building of a 525m-long pedestrian walkway and 555m-long anti-climb fencing, completed recently.
Lim said the walkway would provide a link between Jalan 21/13 and Jalan 21/7 as well as a small recreational space used by residents.
The upgrade included an in-line detention drain to help mitigate floods by temporarily storing rainwater during thunderstorms before releasing it gradually, she said.
Contractors also repaired soil and slope vulnerabilities at certain houses.
Nalina said the walkway was designed to be locked at both ends, with access limited to residents.
'Two keys will be given to the Sea Park Apartment Residents Association, seven to residents of Jalan 21/7 and a master key to MBPJ.
'This limited access is a security measure to reduce the risk of outsiders entering residential properties from the back,' she said.