Stakeholders in Batu Caves industrial area want speedy solution to flash floods

SEVERAL business owners in Sesama Industrial Area, Taman Sri Gombak in Batu Caves, want authorities to fix the drains and clear rubbish in the area to reduce flash flooding fast.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said the drainage system was either badly maintained or clogged with rubbish.

“This usually leads to flash floods during downpours as the drains cannot cope with the large volume of water.

“The water which overflows onto roads and into industrial lots has caused business operators a lot of inconvenience, stress and losses,” said Yee during a press conference at the entrance of Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS) headquarters in Selayang Baru, Selangor.

He said that despite complaints either lodged in person and through various official channels to MPS and KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM), the problem had continued for many years.

Rubbish piled up outside a lot in Sesama Industrial Area, Taman Sri Gombak, which is adding to the flood problem.“Business owners and operators are questioning MPS and KDEBWM’s lack of efficiency in addressing the problem.

“They are taxpayers who contribute to Selangor’s economy, and deserve basic services from the authorities,” he added.

Factory owners CK Liew and Andy Yew said some 40 to 50 lot owners in the Sesama Industrial Area had been affected by poor drainage and flash floods for more than five years.

“Even if it does not rain, the water in the drain outside my lot is stagnant, filling three-quarters of the drain.

“When it rains, water overflows within five minutes,” said Liew, who runs a plastic manufacturing business.

“Since the authorities have not taken action, despite multiple complaints lodged, many business operators have resorted to building structures around their lots to reduce chances of water overflowing into their premises,” they said.

Liew built a low barrier that went from one brick to three bricks high.

“The water can easily go up to 30cm during a downpour.

“Frequent flash floods disrupt our businesses,” he said.

The 41-year-old said MPS visited his premises once after a complaint was lodged, but was told nothing could be done as the blockage was at his neighbour’s lot and Liew had no way of contacting that lot owner because he was never around.

Meanwhile, printing business owner Yew elevated the floor of his lot by at least 30cm to reduce chances of flooding.

“MPS visited my lot once several years ago after I lodged a complaint,” said the 42-year-old.

“The officers told me to tear down a wall which I built to address the flood problem.

“I complied with their instruction but there was no follow-up from MPS after that,” he said.

Yee said three other industrial areas, namely Taman Sri Batu Caves, Kimpal Batu Caves and Batu Caves industrial zone (heavy industry) also faced similar problems with several hundred lots affected.

He earlier handed over a memorandum highlighting issues faced in the four industrial areas to MPS president Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi’s office and Gombak MP Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s service centre.

“The business owners and operators in these four industrial areas want Mohd Yazid and Amirudin to visit the site and come up with permanent solutions to resolve their flood problem,” said Yee.

When contacted, both MPS and KDEBWM acknowledged the complaints highlighted in the memorandum and said they would issue their comments soon.