A RECENTLY constructed flood retention pond at Taman Teluk Pulai, in Klang, Selangor is causing frustration among residents who say it has failed to serve its intended purpose.

The pond located at Lorong Serampang 1 has not providng much-needed flood mitigation, they say.

The residents said hoarding around the premises was removed at the end of March. They questioned the retention pond’s efficacy, describing it as a “sunken field”.

Despite the existence of a retention pond in the neighbourhood, a flood occurred two weeks ago leaving homes water­logged after 20 minutes of rain.

Ampika Pathy, 80, said floods in the area, before MBDK turned the land into a retention pond, were not as severe.

“We noticed that the recent floods were worse because water overflowed onto the main road. “Traffic was chaotic and motorists driving down from Teluk Pulai overhead bridge had to make a U-turn,” he said.

Along Jalan Teluk Pulai, Star Metro noticed a signboard stating that the reservoir was to meet urban storm water management needs. It also said: “During heavy rains, this area will hold water before it is slowly released to prevent flooding in downstream areas. 

“The water level will rise and fall slowly, so you are advised to leave this area when it rains heavily. “This area can be used for recreation during dry weather.”

Residents said when dry, the sunken field turned into a rubbish dump. S. Guna­rasa, 80, said there were two outlets for water to flow into the monsoon drains but this was not happening and that his house in Lorong Sepat 3 got flooded.

He added that he had lodged multiple complaints with MBDK. “There are overgrown plants in the drains, which have not been cleaned in months.

“The soil and silt must be removed.” Lee Siew Guat, 70, who has been living next to the retention pond for three years, said she was shocked to see how the area was inundated with water.

“My neighbours who have been here for the last 40 years have also never seen such bad flooding.” Teluk Pulai Residents Asso­ciation chairman Santokh Singh questioned the rationale and mechanism used by MBDK when the retention pond was planned.

“There was no feasibility study. The monsoon drains surrounding the neighbourhood have not been cleaned, which is also the cause for the flooding,” he said. R. Ramachandran, 75, who lives behind the Teluk Pulai KTM Komuter station, said he had to place a stone slab at the entrance of his house to keep floodwaters out.

“It has worsened in the last 10 years,” he said, adding that poor drainage around the station carpark contributed to the problem. MBDK did not reply to Star­Metro’s request for feedback at press time.