KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — The flood retention pond capacity in the capital is now estimated at only about 30 per cent of its original size following the reduction of the Jinjang and Batu flood retention ponds due to development on 17 land lots.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the government took the situation involving 70 per cent of the 17 land lots that had been granted to developers for development purposes since 2015 seriously, resulting in a reduction in the water body's capacity from its original size of 114.5 hectares.
“Currently, only 34.35 hectares of the water body remain after the land ownership was granted. So our concern is that if all the developments are carried out, the water body capacity will be further reduced,” she said during a media conference at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Tower today.
Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud and Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain.
Yeoh added that technical assessments by the Federal Territories Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) revealed the situation had also affected the original function of the flood retention ponds, complicated maintenance work and machinery access, and increased the risk of flash floods in existing developed areas.
In this regard, DBKL will not approve planning permission for any development applications on flood retention pond areas until all development conditions set by the DID to preserve the ponds’ original functions and maintenance access are met.
“We cannot continue allowing development on flood retention ponds,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Territories Department had established a special task force chaired by its director-general to coordinate all relevant agencies, including the Selangor DID, on flood mitigation measures in Kuala Lumpur.
Yeoh said the approach is important to ensure the flood retention pond capacity in the capital would not continue to be affected, while safeguarding residents’ safety and the sustainability of the urban drainage system.
