Penang govt to probe cause of Paya Terubong floods

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government will investigate the root cause of flash floods at Paya Terubong on Wednesday.
"We have taken into account all causes, including development projects and whether there are other causes, such as heavy rain.
"I have instructed the Engineering Department of the Penang City Council (MBPP) to conduct an investigation at the area," he told reporters during a site visit to the Green Garden and Eco Terraces at Jalan Paya Terubong together with State Flood Mitigation committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow today.
Saying that heavy downpours were likely to have caused the flash floods, Lim said there were no development projects or illegal hill cutting behind the Green Garden flats.
"We checked the entire hill slope area using drones and found there was only an agricultural patch but we did not find any new hill clearing," he said.
Lim added that according to residents in the area, flooding usually occurs during heavy rain.
He however added that the state administration would study the hill slope to come up with a mitigation plan.
On Wednesday, heavy floods occurred at Paya Terubong for the second time in two weeks following an early morning downpour.
Meanwhile, Chow said MBPP has issued a stop work order notice to two developers – Eco Terraces and Geo Valley Sdn Bhd and directed them to work on the mitigation work.
While another developer PLB Sdn Bhd was only ordered to carry out mitigation work.
"The recent flooding is mainly from Green Garden flats and the retention pond at Eco Terraces, which had overflowed.
"We hope all three developers carry out mitigation work swiftly," he said.