Hill-cutting blamed for flash floods

Population is the root cause. Hill-cutting is to support the increasing population. Very interesting idea in the news below by former PBA engineer Kam U-Tee.

BTW, who shall we blame? Man for hill-cutting or God for population explosion?What is your comment?

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Friday October 24, 2008
Staronline
By CHRISTINA CHIN

GEORGE TOWN: Hill-cutting and development of valleys on the island are the main cause of the recent flash floods in Ayer Itam and its surrounding areas.

Water resources expert Datuk Kam U-Tee said the floods were caused by conversion of the Paya Terubong and Bayan Baru valleys into “concrete aprons that do not retain water.”

“The water immediately flows into the streams causing flash floods even with moderate rainfall.

“Because of hill-cutting activities, the flowing water causes erosion of the slopes which carries mud and silt into the river beds,” said Kam, who was Penang Water Authority general manager for 17 years until he retired in 1990.

Dredging the river is not a permanent solution, he said, adding that the floods could not have been caused by water released from the nearby Air Itam Dam.

“In some countries, developers are required to include retention ponds and underground water tanks to allow release of water more evenly.

“Developers encroaching onto river flood plains, which are natural flood retention features, cause a faster flow but with reduced cross sections,” he said.

Last week, Sungai Air Itam overflowed its banks causing floods in surrounding areas including Air Putih, Hye Keat Estate and Taman Lumba Kuda.

It was described as among the worst floods in 20 years.

Kam said many did not realise that the dam comprised of less than one quarter of the total Sungai Air Itam catchment area.

Penang plans to introduce several flood-mitigation methods including retention ponds, bunds and higher dam walls.

Floods in Penang

I was in Penang Island today. Managed to capture the overflowing Sungai Pinang. Flood in Penang - is here to stay. Nothing will change unless a diversion tunnel to channel the rushing water away from the Farlim's valley. Here are what I found during my research into the flooding areas in Penang. Two main rivers feed Sungai Pinang. The confluence of the two rivers is beside Jalan Air Itam. Flooding happened after this confluence. The large volume of water came from Sungai Air Itam.

Jalan P. Ramlee on 30 Sept 08

Lorong Kulit. Rubbish blocking the flow.
Jalan Gopeng

Diversion tunnel exit at Mt Erskine.

A diversion tunnel was built from Jalan Kebun Bunga where the rich were affected by the flood then. The flood water diverted to Tanjung Tokong via Mt Erskine. If this diversion tunnel has been built from Farlim's valley, the flooding along Sungai Pinang could be lessen. Well, most affected along Sungai Pinang were squatters....so there is no reason to build a diversion tunnel.

Well, if you are rich and influential, you can influence the politicians to build a tunnel. That's life.

Map shows the confluence of Sungai Air Itam (Left) and Sungai Air Terjun (Right). Which is larger? Why diversion for a small river?

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Floods, landslides hit Penang again

Tuesday September 30, 2008
Staronline

GEORGETOWN: Thousands of motorists were caught in massive traffic jams Tuesday morning, when flash floods and mudslides hit Penang for the second time this month.

Flood-prone areas in the state, including the inner city, Jalan P. Ramlee, Balik Pulau, Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru, Seberang Prai and Butterworth were the worst hit.


Heavy rainclouds loom over Georgetown in Penang after a spell of incessant rainfall since Monday night.

According to Central Seberang Prai police media relations officer Supt Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif, Sungai Dua in Butterworth had overflowed its banks following heavy rains since Monday.

“On the island, the water level in Jalan P. Ramlee was waist-high about 7am. The alert level for the nearby Sungai Pinang is 2.6m but the current water level is 3m.

“Several vehicles were stuck because the roads were flooded,” he said, adding that police personnel have been placed on high alert.

He said among the other affected areas were Air Putih and Taman Manggis in Balik Pulau where the water rose to about 0.3m high.

“So far, three landslides have been reported along Jalan Tun Sardon. The road links Paya Terubong and Balik Pulau.

“The road from Teluk Kumbar to Balik Pulau has been closed,” he said.

Bayan Lepas assemblyman Syed Amerruddin Datuk Syed Ahmad said five villages - Kampung Nelayan, Kampung Mesjid, Kampung Padang, Kampung Bukit, Kampung Seronok and Kampung Binjai - were badly affected.

He said food and emergency aid was being distributed to the villages but “unfortunately Hari Raya preparations for many families have been ruined.”

Syed Amerruddin said he was worried about the noon high tide as the villages were located near the sea.

According to a state Meteorological Department spokesperson, the intermittent heavy rain should clear by Wednesday.

“The heavy shower started at about 10pm on Monday night, causing the flash floods.

“Everything is still under control but we are observing the situation closely, especially Jalan P. Ramlee.

“If the rain continues to be heavy we might announce an evacuation,” he said, adding that the rain affected all areas on the island and mainland.

He said the downpour was the “echo” from the tropical storm in Vietnam.

A North-East district operation centre spokesperson said three relief centres were opened at 8am this morning - SK Francis Light, Methodist Boys School and P. Ramlee auditorium .

On Sept 6, flash floods hit various parts of the state and roads from the city centre to Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau were cut off due to landslides and fallen trees. This followed intermittent moderate to heavy rain.

Among the places flooded then were Bayan Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Taman Siakap in Seberang Jaya and parts of the city centre.

Flooding in Penang - People are Waking UP?

Yes, homo sapiens are selfish. If it does not affect them, they wouldn't care. Only when natural disaster affected their ownself, only then they will choose to wake up!

Flooding is a good way of waking up these people. And I hope more flooding and more landslides will happen all over Bolehland. Not that I am "ill-hearted" but I am for a long term sustainable environment. For a sustainable enivironment for your future generations too. Wake up, wake up before it is too late! Mother earth is bleeding.

If you have read my posts since the begining of my blog, you will notice that I have been advocating for a change, for a better environment. Not many were interested. Penang Hill is one example where even the people staying in Penang Hill doesn't care a hoot about the development. (BTW, I don't stay in Penang Island, ok).

There was a hindu friend who have been supporting the Barisan Najis government for years. When I asked her why she has not voted for the opposition during the many past elections but only now you are calling for change! "Saya sudah bangun dari tidur"(wake up from sleep), she added.

Well, well, I hope you guys "sudah bangun dari tidur" too. Brace for more landslides and more flooding so that you will be wide awake.

Read the story here: What is causing the flood.