Clogged drains in Taman City are mosquito breeding grounds

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/02/26/Swimming-with-larvae-Clogged-drains-in-Taman-City-are-mosquito-breeding-grounds/ (BY JAROD LIM, 26/2/2014)

Potential health risk: Sin Leong holding a plastic cup filled with mosquito larvae in stagnant water from a drain along Jalan Selingsing 7.

SEVERAL clogged drains that have turned into mosquito breeding grounds at Taman City in Kuala Lumpur have got residents fuming.

Resident Lim Sin Leong scooped stagnant water from the drains with a plastic cup and found mosquito larvae in it.

“This has become more serious recently due to the dry weather. A lot of mosquitoes enter the house at night.

“We have complained to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and they sent someone to unclog and clean the drain. But the problem recurred several days later,” said the 48-year-old resident.

Checks by StarMetro revealed that the drain along Jalan Selingsing 7 at the housing estate was clogged and heavily infested with mosquito larvae. A lot of mosquitoes were also seen hovering above the drains that contained stagnant water around the back lanes of shoplots along Jalan Kepayang.

Taman City Timur Rukun Tetangga chairman Cheah Kong Seng said the clogged drain problem had been going on for over 20 years.

“The main drain is higher than the smaller drains outside houses and shoplots, which stops the water from flowing and causes the water to stagnate.

“This also contributes to flash floods after a downpour, and shoplot owners have to build a barrier to prevent the water from flowing into their shops,” he said.

Cheah also said that there were three blocks of shoplots along Jalan Kepayang and over 30 shoplots.

“Last year, there were more than 10 dengue cases reported in this area.

“There are about 300 residents staying here and I hope DBKL will look into this soon,” he said.

Yap Eng Seng, 60, who lived in Taman City for over 30 years, said the drains at the houses and shops were rebuilt when the main road, Jalan Kuching, was constructed.

“Jalan Kuching, which is parallel to Jalan Kepayang and connected to the Duke Highway, was built in the 1980s.

“The main drain beside the road is higher than the existing drain in Taman City.

“So, the drains were rebuilt so that water could flow out. However, the drainage system was poorly done,” said Yap.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, in a press conference, urged DBKL to review the drainage system there and rectify the problem.

“DBKL should come out with a long-term solution that can address the problem permanently,” he said.