PHT questions council’s way of tackling floods

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) is concerned over the approach taken by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to overcome floods in the state’s heritage enclave. PHT president Khoo Salma Nasution said it lauded the effort by MPPP to mitigate floods but what was of concern, were the methods and approaches adopted. “We are happy that the (local) authorities have listened to the people’s concerns. However, we have also received numerous complaints from the public over the scope of the implementation,” she said. Khoo Salma said that in the past few weeks, the PHT had received complaints from ratepayers about damage to private property and shophouses when the historic granite fonts were removed and discarded. “The excessive use of concrete to fight floodwaters is worrisome,” she said. PHT council member Rebecca Wilkinson-Duckett said that the use of box culverts had altered the natural drainage ecology in George Town. “The original brick and lime structures were permeable and allowed for underground water to flow into the drains. “The concrete box culverts prevent such action. The new drains also prevent smooth outflow of water from air wells of shophouses and have hampered PHT’s efforts to get owners to re-open their air wells.” It was reported that the state government was disappointed that a few heritage-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had complained about MPPP’s works to upgrade drainage in the heritage areas. State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said they should not have complained to the National Heritage Department without referring first to the council. He said that the NGOs had complained that the drains should not be upgraded as they were part of Penang’s heritage. “We are upgrading the drains because they are old and they cannot hold a heavy volume of water during the rainy season. This has resulted in floods. Flooding is a major concern to all. We are upgrading the drains to address the issue. The NGOs should consider this before lodging complaints,” he said. - The Star