SHAH ALAM: For the first time ever, the Selangor government will deepen Sungai Klang by 2-3m and reinforce its banks to avert potential floods.
State Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Izham Hashim said work to deepen the river would begin from Nov 1 at sensitive and shallow parts that were prone to flooding, such as those in Seri Muda, Sungai Kandis and Puchong.
He said this was based on a technical study on cross-river sections, which revealed that the shallower parts near the three localities must be deepened as soon as possible to ensure the smooth flow of water and prevent stagnation.
"When the river deepening works are completed in about a year's time, the river will have the capacity to hold 40 per cent more water. It will also help to lower the risk of flooding and for the water to flow faster.
"The river banks will also be strengthened as part of the deepening works. The work will span from the river's boundary in Kuala Lumpur to Klang.
"Work will start in Kota Kemuning and Seri Muda, which are sensitive areas," he said today.
Izham said this after presenting 14 portable generators and 14 high-pressure water jets to eight state municipalities and six district and land offices that administered high-risk flood areas as preparations for the monsoon.
He presented the equipment during the "Kami Prihatin" ceremony in his capacity as Koridor Utiliti Selangor Sdn Bhd (Kusel) chairman. Kusel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state via Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated.
The state also received motorboat with a capacity of eight people to evacuate residents when floods strike.
Separately, Izham said he had spoken to Tenaga Nasional Bhd to ensure the availability of mobile generator sets and to elevate low-lying substations. This was important to ensure electricity supply was not disrupted, he said.
He said the state wanted to prevent the magnitude of the Seri Muda floods in December last year, when the pump houses and floodgates could not function due to a power supply shutdown.