MARAN: Deepening Sungai Jerik and building a floodwall has been identified as among the measures to resolve perennial flood problems at the 131-year-old Sri Marathandavar Aalayam temple near here.
Frequent flash floods with murky river water inundating the temple compound has become common during the monsoon season and to worsen matters, the recent incident (flash flood) on Aug 11, occurred less than two months after the temple's Maha Kumbhabhisekam (a consecration ceremony).
Temple president Datuk K. Tamil Selven said although certain sections of the temple compound was submerged during the recent floods, water did not enter the main temple building.
"Some parts of the temple were under 0.4m of water but since the temple premises had been raised during the recent renovation, water did not enter. However, the flood water receded within a few hours.
"The temple management has decided on short-term measures which includes to build a 1.5m high floodwall while the long term efforts will be to deepen and widen Sungai Jerik which often overflows during heavy rain," he said when contacted today.
Meanwhile, Tamil Selven said issues concerning the flash floods had been raised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar during a hi-tea with Hindu temple committee representatives at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya on Feb 11 this year.
"The temple committee was told to prepare a paperwork to find a long-term solution to the issue and deepening Sungai Jerik which flows behind the temple will help overcome the problem. We need to consult the Department of Irrigation and Drainage on how the works(deepen and widen) can be conducted.
"As part of the immediate measures, a floodwall will be built behind the temple to prevent the river water from entering the temple compound during heavy downpour and the monsoon season. We have begun planning and work is expected to begin soon," he said.
During the floods in 2021, the temple was inundated in 3m-deep murky water for several days resulting in losses estimated more than RM1 million.
On Feb 11 this year, the temple management met Anwar in Putrajaya and was told to work on a paperwork with a comprehensive plan to put an end to the flash flood issues.
The octagon-shaped temple near here which is surrounded by an oil palm plantation attracts about half a million Hindu devotees annually during the 'Panguni Uthiram' festival between March and April. During the temple's consecration ceremony on July 9, thousands of devotees including some from Singapore travelled to attend the prayers.