Should Selangor have its own SMART tunnel?

By ZAIDI ISHAM ISMAIL
editor@dagangnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR Dec 20 - By today, most Malaysians would have seen a deluge of WhatsApp pictures and TikTik videos on the devastating effects of the floods over the weekend.

Some 4,000 people were displaced and losses were unquantifiable but obviously it would amount in the tens or even hundreds of millions of ringgit.

Similarly, the floods were also catastrophic nationwide.

However, the floods were never that bad in Selangor except in areas near the periphery of the sea.

Selangor has never seen flood victims climbing up rooftops to seek help - a familiar and common sight in Kelantan and Terengganu.

This gives rise to a question - should Selangor have its very own SMART tunnel just like in Kuala Lumpur?

A lecturer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said a full-blown SMART tunnel in Selangor will cost billions of ringgit and might not be feasible.

But what Selangor can do is build a mini-SMART system at every upcoming property development.

"Selangor needs a well-planned underground storm water management system at all new housing developments," the lecturer specialising in environment conservation told DagangNews.com.

She added it is true that the rain over the weekend was heavier than usual but at other times, flash floods can still occur and a SMART system can lessen the damage," said the lecturer.

A retired civil engineer of the Works Ministry meanwhile said a SMART tunnel will only work if the sea water level is also not high.

"Storm water cannot be channelled into the sea which is also at a high tide.

A SMART tunnel in Selangor can only work when there is heavy rain and at the same time, the sea water level is at its normal tide," the engineer told DagangNews.com.

Meanwhile, in a viral WhatsApp message, Professor Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said the rainfall was four times heavier than usual.

"Even the 10km SMART tunnel in Kuala Lumpur could barely cope."

Just imagine what would happen to KL if the SMART tunnel was not there.

Kelantan even mooted the idea for its very own SMART tunnel many years ago but it never materialised due to high cost.

Selangor is undergoing rapid industrial growth but unfortunately its irrigation and drainage system is unable to keep up.

Admittedly, the rain over the weekend was too intense for Selangor but the state has to go back to the drawing board and include flood rescue efforts in its agenda.

As an example, local councils could now buy more boats because rain is common in Selangor.

Man cannot stop rain and fight Mother Nature. 

All we can do is to plan ahead and prepare for the next calamity. – DagangNews.com