KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Land clearing caused by intensive development in the city has been pinpointed as one of the main culprits in the recent spate of flash floods.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) civil engineering and drainage department director Tan Keng Chok told Malay Mail that land clearing for development had caused the surface run-off coefficient to increase, causing drains in the city to overflow.

“In the past, rainwater would be absorbed by the tree roots that covered the landscape, but now, the trees have been cut down.” he said.

“Those carrying out projects have a responsibility to maintain their drains.”

Tan said global climate change had caused rainfall density to increase by as much as 20 per cent this year, which posed a problem as Kuala Lumpur was located on low land and “prone to floods”.

“The current drainage system was designed a long time ago and its existing capacity cannot cope with the high density of rainfall,” he said.

Tan said the department was identifying black spots around the city that were most susceptible to flooding, and focusing upgrade work on those areas.

So far, he said at least five black spots have been identified and drain upgrading projects have been undertaken to alleviate the flooding issue.

Two drainage projects have already begun at Jalan Chan Sow Lin and Kampung Dato’ Keramat with the projects costing RM3.8 million and RM8 million respectively.

The work at Jalan Chan Sow Lin started on July 15 and is expected to be completed by November 2015.

“It is a tough job because upgrading the drain requires the contractors to clear the rocks in the area and perform underground pipe jacking,” Tan said.

At Kampung Dato’ Keramat, construction will begin on October 15, on a new monsoon drain because the current installation was inadequate.

Two drain-capacity extension projects were being finalised at Taman Petaling, Kepong and Jalan Cheras near the Mass Rapid Transit construction site, expected to cost RM5 million and RM6 million respectively.

Monsoon drain upgrades were being planned at Jalan Setia Bestari, Bukit Damansara and Jalan Duta, although costs have yet to be confirmed.

Tan said a RM10 million drainage tunnel was under construction from Jalan Duta which would carry rainwater through Jalan Bangsar to Sungai Klang.

“This tunnel is being built alongside a vehicular tunnel, which also begins in Jalan Duta,” he said.

City Hall director-general Datuk Mohd Amin Aziz said a task force was set up last Friday to serve as an immediate response team to flood emergencies in the city centre.

It comprised officers from City Hall Enforcement Department, assisted by officials from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Meteorological Department (MET).

“The DID and MET will provide us with data regarding rainfall density and times to expect rain,” Mohd Amin said.

The task force is divided into three teams — a 20-man reconnaissance squad, a 40-man rescue squad equipped with boats and multipurpose vehicles and a 40-man emergency squad.