KUALA LUMPUR: The massive flooding that caused thousands of motorists to be caught in a gridlock on KL roads on April 25, has led to 14 interim measures being launched to target 25 flash floodprone areas in the city.

       Costing RM10mil, the project under the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will include hiring consultants to study the city’s drainage system as well as renting high-capacity pumps and lorry tankers.

       Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah said 14 interim measures of the Flash Flood Action Plan Kuala Lumpur 2022 were made based on investigations and reports as well as community feedback gathered from the April 25 floods that hit parts of the city.

       “The (April 25) flash flood lasted 45 minutes and based on the reports received, we have come up with several measures that will also require community participation to make it work,’’ he said.

       Mahadi said each hotspot would require a different solution to counter floods.

       For instance, some of the flood hotspots that were badly affected were Jalan Brunei, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah, Jalan Maharajalela and Jalan Pintasan, Segambut.

       DBKL will be upgrading and widening the scupper drains in these areas from 0.3m to 0.6m.

       The drains will also be cleared of debris by workers from the Public Service Delivery Team, who will ensure that the drains are free of rubbish, tree branches and utility pipes and cables.

       To resolve the issue of accumulated water on the road surface, Mahadi said DBKL would build sump pumps at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and Jalan Khidmat Usaha.

       Areas near riverbanks will be installed with sandbags as a temporary measure before a flood wall is built.

       “We have installed some 2,000 sandbags at Jalan Pintasan, Jalan Segambut, Jalan Rahmat, Kampung Kasipillay, Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, Kampung Pasir and Lebuh Ampang,” said Mahadi.

       Other measures include desilting of flood retention ponds in Lorong Maarof, Jalan Travers and Universiti Malaya.

       DBKL will also be monitoring privately owned on-site detention tanks to check on blockages as well as using water-absorbent materials like stone mastic asphalt for road surfacing works.

       Mahadi added that plans would involve public participation on plogging activities to run twice a week at all flood hotspots in Kuala Lumpur as well as creating more litter-free zones in the city.

       “Our consultants will provide a progress report every three months. However, we have given ourselves until the end of the year to see how things go,” he said.

       When asked if DBKL would be relooking at the city’s development guidelines in light of climate change and frequent flooding incidences, the mayor said, “We have long-term plans for that. The consultants are studying the city’s drains and monsoon drain capacity and if there is a need for changes, we will relook based on the duties.

       “We cannot be doing things on an ad hoc basis.”

       On April 25, heavy rain left thousands stranded in flash floods around the city and caused traffic to come to a standstill.