SINCE the completion of a RM2.3mil flood mitigation project in Lim Garden last October, residents there have been living peacefully without flash floods disrupting their lives.
The project, which includes the building of a pump house, a 1,042m-long drain and the installation of a storm water pump, has thus far successfully prevented flooding with a committee set up to operate the pump house to release water into Sungai Pari.
Lim Garden Residents Association secretary K. Sagadevan said the pumps at Lim Garden were working fine.
“There are no issues now.
“There have been no flooding incidents since the pumps were installed,” Sagadevan said.
“Small amounts of stagnant water will also be pumped out almost immediately during a downpour,” he said.
However, Sagadevan said another pump was needed near Jalan Muhibbah, next to Lim Garden, as the existing one was unable to cater to the high volume of rainfall.
“The existing pump near Jalan Muhibbah also needs servicing.
“It is only able to pump out half the water at its full capacity now and will not be able to handle a large volume of water if it rains heavily,” he said, adding that some of the drains at Jalan Sitiawan also flow towards the drain at Jalan Muhibbah.
Sagadevan said the association had requested that the state Drainage and Irrigation Department get an existing pump from Merdeka Garden to be placed there.
“I learnt that Merdeka Garden has three existing huge pumps, including two new ones and a retention pond.
“We hope that they could move one of the three pumps to Jalan Muhibbah to help pump out stagnant water during a downpour,” he said, adding that the request was made earlier this month.
“The area near Jalan Muhibbah will flood after about two hours of heavy rainfall,” he added.
Sagadevan also praised the Ipoh City Council for doing a good job in maintaining the cleanliness of the residential area at Lim Garden.
“The residents understand that the surroundings, especially the drains in front of their houses, must be kept clean and not clogged.
“We always advise them to be mindful and to prevent water from stagnating,” he said.
Zulkifdzi Salleh, 19, also said there has not been any flash flood incidences this year at Manjoi.
The hardware shop assistant said even during the past few weeks when rainfall was high, the river did not overflow.
“I’ve only been living here since the beginning of the year but I have heard of frequent flooding.
“During the past few weeks, it has been raining heavily and the river was swollen,” he said.
“However, the water from the river did not flow out to houses along the bank,” he added.
Chow Kooi Hoong, who runs a coffeeshop in Buntong, said he is still cautious about the weather despite the area being flash flood-free last year.
Chow, 47, who has been living in Buntong for more than three decades, said the area near Sungai Pari had been hit by flash floods many times and that the residents there were not taking any chances.
“We are all anxious whenever it rains.
“Most of the residents here are always preparing themselves for the worst.
“We have all kept our important belongings on higher places,” she said.
Chow noted that while there had not been any serious flooding in the area in the past couple of weeks, there were several “signs” that the area might be submerged.
“Just about two weeks ago, the incessant rain caused the water level on the ground to rise up to our ankles.
“The river itself, as again, overflows easily as the siltation of sand from upstream continues to make it shallow,” she said.
“The drains here in Buntong are also clogged with rubbish and it is just a matter of time before flash floods hit again,” she added.
Chow said she hoped that the authorities, either the Drainage and Irrigation Department or the Ipoh City Council, could conduct river dredging exercises again.
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