News: Flash floods in PJ could have been caused by construction sites

The Star, 7 November 2012

THE flash flood which occurred along Jalan Lapangan Terbang in Petaling Jaya on Monday created a massive traffic deadlock, stretching all the way to the Federal Highway.

Ara Damansara resident Patrick Wang, 39, said several flash flood cases had occurred along the road but none were as severe as the incident which took place on Monday. Traffic came to a standstill until late evening.

“We constantly see puddles of water under the flyover at the Saujana junction, which causes a lot of potholes on the roads,” he said.

Motorists which were heading towards the Federal Highway from Ara Damansara were also caught in the snarl at the junction.

The area poses a unique position; the road falls under th jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (JKR) while on either sides of it, Ara Damansara falls under the Petaling Jaya City Council while the Saujana and Glenmarie area fall under the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) jurisdiction.

A check with the JKR revealed that several construction sites along the road may have contributed to the flash flood and clogging of the area’s drainage system.

Proposals to upgrade the drainage system along the road have been made but were yet to be approved.

At press time, MBPJ and MBSA had yet to comment on whether the runoff from the construction sites in the area could have clogged up the drainage system there.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?sec=central&file=/2012/11/7/central/12281828