Without a doubt, Klang and Gombak rivers have remained two of Klang Valley’s dirtiest rivers. Due to their shameful state, they have become an under-utilised natural asset, especially the Klang River which has the potential to be a vibrant waterfront given its historical importance, heritage centre and location within the city.

This next entry-point project focuses on the need to rehabilitate the river, which includes redevelopment of several locations with a clean-up programme. Ten locations have been identified along the two river banks to be redeveloped and beautified.

Besides the beautification programme, mixed-use developments will be encouraged to increase retailing, housing and places of leisure.

The river clean-up exercise will be studied by the DBKL, Department of Irrigation and Drainage and National Sewerage Department.

Implementation should start late this year or early next year to improve the current water quality.

To support river-cleaning efforts, major exercises to be carried out include upgrading the existing sewerage system to reduce pollutants from entering the river and upgrading drainage systems to prevent flooding and water guidelines for residents, factories and commercial outlets along the river, to be conducted in collaboration with the Selangor government.

The Global Environment Centre (GEC) River Care Programme coordinator Dr K. Kalithasan said he welcomed any move to revitalise the Klang River.

“It is polluted and has low aquatic life. So much has been said in the past about plans for river clean-up and I hope it will not remain lip service this time,” said Dr Kalithasan.

He said any clean-up should start from the catchment area.

Beautification, he said, should not only be about tree-planting.

“There are three natural aspects that the authorities should look at for the river to cleanse and purify itself.

“Firstly, a natural river must meander and it cannot be straight. It should have ripples and pools and not a flat bottom bed, and thirdly, the river itself must have biodiversity which means there should be wetland plants planted within it, and not just any trees.

“These three criteria are what a natural river should have so it could rid itself of impurities,” he said.

The ETP had outlined RM17.9bil total expenditure for this entry-point project to be achieved within 10 years, and for a start, a joint development council sponsored by the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministy will drive the initiative to be coordinated by the DBKL.

Read the full article here: Nine entry-point projects to help increase GNI