SHAH ALAM, April 29 — Dredging works along Sungai Klang, spanning 54km, have increased the river’s capacity by 20 per cent, said Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari .
This has yielded positive results, with several areas previously prone to flooding no longer affected or showing significant improvement, including Bukit Lanchong and Kampung Lombong.
“The cleaning of Sungai Klang is ongoing, with a total of 87,000 tonnes of waste successfully removed using the Interceptor trash collection system under the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG).
“We are also continuing dredging works, and this effort has increased the river’s capacity by 20 per cent,” he said during the winding-up session of the motion of thanks for the royal address of the Sultan of Selangor during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
In August last year, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato' Izham Hashim said the dredging works along the 54km stretch are expected to be completed within five years, restoring Sungai Klang's depth.
He noted that the works are necessary due to excessive waste accumulation and sediment build-up, which had reduced the river’s depth to about one metre compared to its original four metres.
The state government, through the SMG project led by Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd, began dredging efforts two years ago.
Izham added that not only plastic and bulk waste had been removed, but also items like mattresses, bicycles, and wheelbarrows. The dredging, carried out using three excavators, has covered 8km so far, with the entirety of Sungai Klang expected to take five years to complete.
