PETALING JAYA: Areas prone to landslides and floods have been identified and public infrastructure such as roads and drainage have been inspected for safety in the eventuality of another wave, says the Public Works Department (JKR) director-general.

       Datuk Mohamad Zulkefly Sulaiman said JKR’s Disaster Operations Room would continue to operate round the clock in the event of any second round of floods.

       Known as BiGBen, the Disaster Operations Room is JKR’s one-stop centre for disaster management covering floods, landslides, road subsidence and damaged or collapsed bridges involving roads and slope infrastructures under its supervision.

       Mohamad Zulkefly said BiGBen, which started on Nov 17, was currently operating at Stage Three and running for 24 hours with six reports issued publicly daily via JKR’s official social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

       “Through district JKR offices, the department has also identified and increased the frequency of inspections and the patrolling of slopes and roads during this monsoon season, especially in dangerous and high-risk slope areas.

       “Monitoring will be done through visual methods such as conducting more inspections on the condition of structures and components of slopes and roads.

       “The identification of all the slope locations based on the ‘danger and risk maps’ that needed to be strengthened is also actively ongoing on site.

       “JKR has also identified all high-risk flooding roads that can cause failure, especially on road structures, by maintaining, cleaning and repairing drainage systems from clogging and debris that can obstruct the flow of water, in order to be ready,” said Mohamad Zulkefly.

       JKR, he added, was also monitoring rainfall with the installation of rain gauge stations and early warning equipment that could monitor the movement of the slope surface at critical locations so that early warning of possible landslides can be issued.