Residents Protest Development At Kg Bohol Flood Retention Pond Area

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The flood retention pond in Kampung Bohol, Kuala Lumpur, has gotten shallower over time. Today it is unable to accommodate the overflow of rainwater, causing flooding in surrounding areas.
More than 100 residents came forward today to protest, after learning that the pond will be developed into a large new housing project.
The Joint Committee to Preserve the Bohol Flood Retention Pond consists of 35 associations, including residents, representatives from houses of worship, and NGOs.
Its members hope their efforts will lead to the government’s proposed housing project being cancelled.
“We strongly oppose this plan and any project that would convert the recreational land next to the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond into high-density housing.
“This proposed housing project bordering the Puchong area in Selangor will worsen traffic congestion.
“Why was this high-density project approved quietly without consultation with MPs, assemblypersons, and the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ)?” the group said in a statement today.
The 63.45ha flood retention pond is located on the border between Puchong, Selangor, and Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.
The areas nearby were hit by floods in July 2020, March and May 2022, and December 2023.
Proposal for 5,000 housing units
According to the group, it received information that the government approved the use of six plots of land next to the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond to build 5,000 housing units.
It was also informed that the developer has plans to upgrade the flood retention pond to withstand the average recurrence interval (ARI) of floods for 100 years.
However, the committee believed that this was not enough as the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry had previously planned to upgrade the flood management system to an ARI of 200 years.
“It is important for the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) to comply with the standards set by upgrading the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond to an ARI of 200 years.
“After the developer is done building the housing project around the flood retention pond, the pond’s capacity will remain forever.
“This will put residential areas around Kinrara, Puchong at greater risk of flooding in the future,” it said.
Before this, media reports revealed that a tender notice was recently issued by the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PTGWP), offering bids to design and upgrade the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond for ownership in accordance with Section 76 of the National Land Code 1965.
PTGWP allegedly published a tender notice on its website with an offer for developer companies to submit bids for the project to facilitate the construction of a large-scale housing project.
Six plots of land with an area of 10.85ha are being given possession in Lot 102996 for the development project.
Meanwhile, protesters who had gathered at the Kampung Muhibah Community Complex to voice their rejection of the project expressed concerns ranging from fear to environmental effects.
Enough with the floods
A resident of the low-cost flats in the area said she was worried about of floods, due to from past experiences.
Saniah, who is in her 60s, said her family has suffered enough with property damage in previous floods.
Ng See Eng“Before, the area around my home area was the worst affected by floods and I have lived here for 38 years.
“Now I have a phobia when there is a flood.
“A lot of property was damaged, important documents were destroyed, residents’ vehicles were damaged. How much help can you get? We couldn’t even eat.
“Please don’t make money out of our suffering. Developers get a lot of money but we suffer. Don’t add to our suffering, it’s enough,” she said loudly.
Another resident, Ng See Eng, 61, said that housing developments in the surrounding areas will greatly impact the lives of residents.
The Shah Alam Highway (Kesas) next to the area was also flood-prone, he said.
“We object to any development involving this flood retention pond area and the surrounding lands. This area is already dense with housing and does not need any more high-density housing.
“It will also add to the traffic congestion on Kesas and Jalan Puchong, especially during peak hours.
“It is better for the government to allocate money to deepen the pond, not sell the land to developers. The pond is so shallow that it loses its function to hold water and causes flooding instead,” he said.
Further, Kampung Petaling Bahagia resident association chairperson Mohd Zaidi Mohd Ali said requent flooding occurs there due to the development in the area being too dense with limited water drainage.
“The government should think about how to improve infrastructure to avoid floods.
“We hope the government will help us, we don’t want to face floods every time it rains. We will be victims of the situation (if the project continues),” he said.
It is understood that Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa will hold a briefing on the issue tomorrow.  - Mkini

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