Retention pond overflows and causes damage
RETENTION ponds are used to prevent flooding but the reverse happened in the Seremban Three township last Friday after a two-hour downpour.
The overflowing retention pond flooded a row of four houses causing considerable damage.
Resident David Nonis, 60, said the flood on Friday was not the first although it was the worst so far.
“This time the water rose quickly because of the poor maintenance of the retention pond. Construction work going on in the area around the 7ha retention pond and silting are the causes of the flood,’’ said Nonis.
Nonis said he highlighted the problems to the developer Menang Corporation but no action had been taken.
He added the residents also had to put up with the stench from the pond due to lack of maintenance.
“The authorities must work out a permanent solution soon,’’ added Nonis.
A. Onesimus, 43, whose house near a monsoon drain was the worst affected, said his house was filled with waste water.
“This is the second time in five years the monsoon drain overflowed due to the inefficient retention pond,’’ said Onesimus.
He said the monsoon drain was deepened after the first flood but it was not a permanent solution.
Housewife Lee Yen Lee, 28, said the pond was once cleared but the rain washed down the debris and silt left on the bank went back into the pond.
Lee said the pond could not cope with the volume of water coming from construction sites upstream.
“The polluted water has also affected the habitat of many aquatic species. and damaged the jogging path along the pond,’’ said Lee.
There is a Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) signboard at the retention pond, but when contacted an officer said the maintenance of the pond was under the jurisdiction of the developer.
However, Menang Corporation project engineer Noriza Sharif said maintenance of the retention pond had been handed over to the DID.
“I will get our consultants to study the area and come out with some measures to overcome the problem,’’ said Noriza, adding that one immediate measure was to ensure there was proper runoff to prevent floods.
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