SHAH ALAM – Layers of rubbish on the bed of the Klang River, including human bones, bicycles, mattresses and jeans, have hampered dredging work, with debris causing the machinery to clog and break down.
Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Exco Datuk Ir Izham Hashim said the extent of the waste was unexpected when the 54-kilometre river rehabilitation project was planned. The riverbed was found to be covered with layers of rubbish and silt that had accumulated over many years.
He said the Klang River was last dredged in 2001, allowing various types of waste to accumulate on its bed over the past 25 years.
“When we went into the Klang River, we found layers of rubbish followed by silt, then more rubbish and silt,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the Friends of River workshop organised by the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) here on Thursday.
Izham said materials such as jeans could clog the machinery because they remained durable even after being submerged in water for a long time.
He said the blockages caused the dredging machinery to break down more frequently, posing another challenge to the rehabilitation project.
He added that the state government had increased the number of dredging machines to three to address the problem.
Izham said dredging work was estimated to be 30 to 40 per cent complete, adding that progress would take time because of the complex condition of the riverbed.
Meanwhile, he said the Klang River rehabilitation project could be completed within three years instead of the original five-year target, following the implementation of several related projects funded by the Federal Government.
He said the state government's efforts had benefited from upstream and downstream projects funded by the Federal Government.
According to him, the collaboration allowed river rehabilitation work to be carried out simultaneously, potentially speeding up the overall project.
“Initially, we targeted completing the entire Klang River rehabilitation project within five years, but I am confident that we can expedite its implementation,” he said.
He said the state government's costs had also been reduced following the implementation of Federal Government projects.
Expenditure by the state government on related works was currently estimated at more than RM200 million, although the exact figure had yet to be finalised, he added.
“The Klang River rehabilitation efforts will continue to ensure that the river's functions as a major drainage channel and a source of raw water are preserved,” he said.