PAM: More structured development planning needed to avoid floods

PETALING JAYA (Nov 18): Authorities should shift their focus to wider and more structured development planning instead of micro-managing developments in pieces, said Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) in a statement on the recent flash flood  in Puchong, Selangor.

PAM’s president Dr Mohd Zulhemlee An (pictured) said a local plan that takes into account the projected population growth and infrastructure needs of an area could avoid disasters related to infrastructure inadequacies.

“With a gazetted infrastructure master plan in place, projects can be developed based on the thoroughly studied infrastructure master plan.”

A well-planned infrastructure masterplan will not just mitigate flash flood issues, but will also allow infrastructure and utility services to be developed in line with development projects, he added.

“This is probably the early answer to the future issues on water supply, sewerage system, energy supply, communication network, traffic system and drainage,” he said.

According to Zulhemlee, flooding generally occurs when the drainage system is no longer able to cope with the rain water volume of an area.

“If at any point along the network of drains and the drain capacity cannot cope with the rainwater volume, or if  the water flow in the drain is not fast enough to discharge the excess water into the final point, flooding could occur.

“Upgrading works to the infrastructure will have to be carried out if the existing ones are not adequate,” he explained.

Zulhemlee added that local authorities must also ensure that the drainage system is constantly maintained so that there will not be any blockages from either rubbish thrown into the drains and to ensure there are no broken drains which could prevent the flow of excess water.

“There is no doubt that rapid development and the numerous construction projects may be contributing factors to the flooding, but to stop development is not the solution.

“It has been long overdue for us to look at our infrastructure master plan. We need to plan for 20 to 50 years with considerations for future development growth,” he added.