KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking into the integrated river basin management model adopted in other countries to seek the best practices and cost effective long-term solution to flash flood problems in the country.
Deputy Environment and Water Minister Datuk Mansor Othman said they included the management in the Murray-Darling basin in Australia, a model in integrated river basin management.
"One of the best model is the Murray-Darling river basin in Australia. The ministry has initiated discussions with several parties to study the best integrated river basin management as a long-term solution to this problem," said Mansor in the Dewan Negara today.
He was responding to an additional question from Senator Mohd Apandi Mohamad who asked if the ministry has identified other measures other than the SMART Tunnel, that is cost effective, to avoid flash floods from recurring.
Mansor stressed that it was important for the local council authorities to comply not only with the integrated river basin management but also the Urban Stormwater Management Manual (MSMA) in formulating the development for areas under their jurisdiction.
"If the guidelines outlined in the integrated river basin management and MSMA are being complied accordingly, this could help solve the floods in the country," he said.
He said MSMA emphasised on having control at source in the urban stormwater management and flood prevention.
Other techniques included water quantity and quality control as well as erosion and sediment control plans (ESCP) to reduce the impact of floods and pollution.
"The best practices proposed by MSMA are floods (stormwater) retention ponds, wetlands, swale (vegetated channels), rainwater harvesting and permeable parking areas," he said.
Other efforts being looked into the ministry, said Mansor, included improving the early warning system for floods.
"This is to enable early preparation (to face floods) not only for the whole country but also to the people at the affected areas.
"The system is developed by Irrigation and Drainage Department together with Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
"At the moment, MetMalaysia is also testing a system related to disaster (warning) in Johor," he said.