DID: Errant developers to blame for flash floods

05/09/2004 Sunday Star

PETALING JAYA: Developers have been ignoring local laws concerning the removal and replacement of “topsoil” for housing projects, making it a major contributor to flash floods in the Klang Valley, a government official said.

Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) deputy director-general (I) Ahmad Fuad Embi said that according to bylaws, developers who have removed topsoil (the upper part of the soil that is relatively rich in humus) in preparing land for projects were required to compensate with at least two inches in return during their development projects.

Topsoil is vital for the storing of rainwater.

He said the neglect of such instructions had led to the continuing problem of flash floods, adding that this would not stop until developers followed the environmental guidelines.

“There are bylaws containing explicit instructions concerning the issue of topsoil, yet local developers have been allowed to remove the topsoil in land-clearing projects without replacing it,” he said at the first public colloquium entitled “Flash Flood and Your Front Lawn” organised by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia here yesterday.

Ahmad Fuad said the lack of enforcement of drainage laws by local authorities also contributed to the problem of errant developers.

He added that the department had been organising workshops and dialogues over the past month to increase awareness of such laws.

Asked if developers would comply when such moves would increase cost, Ahmad Fuad said the design of environmentally-friendly neighbourhoods with more greenery would help offset expenditure and enhance the property value.