UNSYSTEMATIC DRAINAGE SYSTEM CAUSE OF FLASH FLOODS IN PENGKALAN RAMA TENGAH

MELAKA, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- The unsystematic and substandard drainage system due to unplanned development has been identified as the main cause of the frequent flash floods in Pengkalan Rama Tengah here.

Duyong state assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem said that, in addition, drain maintenance works, including monsoon drains, that are not regular and comprehensive also contributed to flash floods over the past 20 years.

He said there are over 1.5 kilometres of drains in the Pengkalan Rama Tengah area and several agencies tasked with maintaining the facility did not carry them out comprehensively, thus, causing thick mud to form in some parts of the drains and making it difficult for water to flow.

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"Pengkalan Rama Tengah has been hit by recurring flash floods, especially when it rains heavily for over two hours, with more than 40 houses affected each time.

"Most of the residents in the area are senior citizens… there was once the same area was hit by flash floods three times in a month,” he told reporters here today. 

He said this after visiting the drain-cleaning operation at Pengkalan Rama Tengah, which involved various agencies and departments, such as the Public Works Department, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Melaka Historic City Council.

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Mohd Noor Helmy, also the state Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications Committee deputy chief, said they are looking for the best solution to ensure the problem does not recur.

He, however, admitted that they faced several constraints, including financial, to upgrade the drains.

"But one of the proposals or initiatives that we will implement is the building of retention ponds in the area to overcome the flash flood problem,” he said.

-- BERNAMA