Personally
and professionally speaking, I still do not fully “understand”
the never ending problem of flood especially in the East Coast of
Malaysia.
(Source : http://d.ibtimes.co.uk)
As
a person who is also having a minor 'stake' in flood mitigation program (which I consider a great honour) I've witnessed the superb
knowledge, skills and experience of my fellow professionals and
experts in the fields supported fully by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the team of consulting engineers appointed by them.
The
Terms of Reference (TOR or Design Specifications/Briefs) provided by DID is very
clear even 'dare' to take a step forward by introducing the need of
a comprehensive Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) which I am
personally involved in including the introduction of Flood Risk Map.
(read my lips carefully...not "Flood Hazard Map" but "Flood RISK Map") - any sample Mr. Nik? Sorry...Confidential!
The
comprehensive FRMP is the FIRST in Malaysia despite the
country has yet a specific Flood Risk Act (also which I have proposed
to the Government – hopefully to be passed in Parliament soon)
The
proposed Act for Malaysia should be something like this sample :
Introductory Text
Part 1 Flood and
Coastal Erosion Risk Management
1. Key concepts and
definitions
1.“Flood”
and “coastal erosion”
2.“Risk”
3.“Risk
management”
4.“Flood
risk management function”
5.“Coastal
erosion risk management function”
6.Other
definitions
2. Strategies,
co-operation and funding
7.National
flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy: (Malaysia)
8.National
flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy:(States)
9.Local
flood risk management strategies: East
10.Local
flood risk management strategies: West
11.Effect
of national and local strategies: North
12.Effect
of national and local strategies: South
13.Co-operation
and arrangements
14.Power
to request information
15.Civil
sanctions
16.Funding
17.Levies
3. Supplemental
powers and duties
18.DOE:
reports
19.Local
authorities: investigations
20.Ministerial
directions
21.Lead
local authorities: duty to maintain a register
4. Regional Flood and
Coastal Committees
22.Establishment
23.Consultation
and consent
24.Membership
25.Money
26.“The
Minister”
5.
General
27.Sustainable
development
28.Power
to make further amendments
29.Restructuring
30.Designation
of features
31.Amendment
of other Acts
Part 2 Miscellaneous
32.Sustainable
drainage
33.Reservoirs
34.Special
administration
35.Provision
of infrastructure
36.Water
use: temporary bans
37.Civil
sanctions
38.Incidental
flooding or coastal erosion: DOE
39.Incidental
flooding or coastal erosion: local authorities
40.Building
regulations: flood resistance
41.Compulsory
works orders
42.Agreements
on new drainage systems
43.Drainage:
concessionary charges for community groups
44.Social
tariffs
45.Water
and sewerage charges: non-owner occupiers
46.Abolition
of Overlapping Committees
Part 3 General
47.Pre-consolidation
amendments
48.Subordinate
legislation
49.Technical
provision
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE
1 Risk Management: Designation of Features
SCHEDULE
2 Risk Management: Amendment of Other Acts
SCHEDULE
3 Sustainable Drainage
SCHEDULE
4 Reservoirs
And yet, some parties keep emerging and simply pointing their fingers towards DID when it comes to flood problems. (Remember, there are still other stakeholders as well – check your facts) With all due respect, sometimes I wonder if these finger pointers have any experience involving themselves in DID flood mitigation projects.
First
a disclaimer, I am neither working nor instructed by DID or any party
to write this article – just to make "a wake up call" and not some "rude awakening"
Let's
talk a bit about what I am involved in - been assigned to prepare the Risk Management Plan in 4 parters
Part
1 – Preliminary (mainly about Flood – with all the complete datum
– among others, causes of flood, rainfall data and IDF Curves,
Mann-Kendall, Hydraulics, risk of flood on people – residential,
assets and offices/businesses, roads, riparian issues etc., Climate
Change and many others. All these are mostly based on the Site Visit,
Survey and Investigation around the catchment area. Both Consultants
and DID have been very generous to cooperate by providing me all the
datum that I require and at the same time, proposed new ideas to
ensure proper mitigation is happening.
Part
2 – Conceptual Design – risks involving design and also future
construction activity – focus on the proposed mitigation – such
as Bunds, Rubberdams, Bridges, Floodgate and Pumps, Detention Ponds
etc. and what are the risks associated with them especially during
construction, post construction and once it is handed over to DID.
(Source : http://huachenrubber.en.ecplaza.net)
(Source : http://www.gobizkorea.com)
Part
3 – Interim Report - basically the progress and effectiveness of Part 1 & 2 and how Part 3 is going to be..
Part
4 – Final – integration of both Part 1 and 2. Findings – to
include numbers of those at risks, match them with the numbers shown
on (a) Socio-Economic Report (prepared by another team member to
include survey with the experienced residents) and match them with
the (b) Flood Hazard Map, Statistics from many stakeholders and Land
Use Map (Current and Future). Then I need to do a projection by
marking them in Red, Yellow/Orange, and Green at different bandings –
Below and above 0.5m and 1m (extracted from Flood Hazard Map prepared
by the Consultants). I then build a flood risk map (still being
proposed) with proper scales vs properties at risks.
(Source : http://i.dailymail.co.uk)
On the
other hand the Design and Construction risks are mostly proactively
identified based on my experience in the construction industry
especially my experience in construction of hydro electric dam has
proven very useful.
Using
the hazard and risk management method, I have identified the risks
and effectiveness of the proposed mitigation from the detailed design
– both reports and drawings. Also giving points on each mitigation
and mark them with 3 colors as well.
Both
flood risks and proposed mitigation design are identified on the
likelihood, severity, risk matrix and priority in order to to project
– high, medium and low a.k.a. Red, Yellow/Orange and Green.
The
Risk Management Plan is aimed at providing a high level and
proactive findings of flood risk from local flood sources
specifically in consequent to the flooding events which may have
commenced from the catchment areas determined/identified by DID. It
is also to identify design and construction activity risks as far as
is practicable resulting from during and where applicable the
possible post-construction activities of the proposed mitigation.
I
am also most impressed and proud with DID upon seeing the locally
customized calculation dubbed as Hydrological Procedure No1-
Estimation of Design Rainstorm in Peninsular Malaysia (HP 1). The
report had outlined the new procedure to estimate design storm using
a new IDF relationship and developed new temporal pattern for various
rainfall duration. I've seen the final projected results and it's
really a WOW factor.So,
what are the typical causes of flood? While many has given their
views, I too have my own views as well.
a)
Loss of flood storage as a result of development extending into and
taking over flood plains and drainage corridors
b)
Increased runoff rates due to urbanisation
c)
Inadequate drainage systems or failure of localised drainage
improvement works, extended insufficiently downstream.
d)
Constriction at bridges and culverts that are either undersized or
partially blocked by debris build-up or from other causes
e)
Siltation in waterway channels from indiscriminate land clearing
operations
f)
Localised continuous heavy rainfall
g)
Tidal backwater effect
h)
Inadequate river capacity
(Source : http://static.euronews.com)
(Source : http://floodlist.com)
Some
also blamed sand mining activity but so far I've seen no evidence of
that except such activity; if any; are being controlled and monitored
properly by the authorities.
(Source : http://www.ejolt.org)
I
also see other issues need to be addressed :
a)
it appears that many people reported experiencing interaction of sea
level rise with other climate extremes – a potential rise could be
coupled with risk of river floods and high population density.
Example, the sea rise at almost the same time of the river/drainage
floods. (this was reported in the East Coast)
b)
Risk for coastal ecosystem
(wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs); increased coral bleaching leading
to widespread coral mortality for temperature increases
c)
Considerations before any mitigation process – that it will not
increase flood risk but to minimize risk to people, property, economy
and the environment, ensure residual risk are manageable, mitigation
compatibility with the town/urban planning program and other relevant
factors,
d)
Proper channel management – agree and define success criteria,
challenge the need of intervention, act to the risk proportion,
Recognize that channel form part of dynamic system
Deal
with the course - not Symptom, work with natural processes and
deliver multiple objectives, Learn
and Adapt,
e)
Sediment and Debris control especially during proposed mitigation
construction phase, (BIG ISSUE)
f) River Diversion during Construction : to determine the right construction time either high or low flow period. This is because the construction during high flow may increase the velocity of flow from outside the work area due to the constriction of the channel, but, the construction during low flow will decrease the flow velocity and hence, potential erosion and movement of sediments/debris mudflow in the stream channel.
g)
future appointed flood mitigation main contractors or sub-contractors; as part of the
contractual terms and conditions; to submit proper documentation (not
limited to the examples quoted) that takes into account periodical
risk assessment, PQP, OSHEMP, Construction Work Method Statement that
takes into account JSA/JHA, Sediment Control Plan etc. for all Civil and Structural,
Mechanical and Electrical works related to the proposed mitigation
There
are other concerns that are not highlighted. Despite they are not
within the scope of work, failure to address such issues may also
affect the project to a certain extend as well. This require
cooperation with all the stakeholders, civil and structural
consultants, architects, engineers etc. that may be working in the
same area to ensure that the surroundings redevelopment/resettlement
to be as consistent as possible with the mitigation works.
According
to one random Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) report, after a large-scale disaster occurs – for
example the recent 2014 flood, it is common to witness the influx of
relief efforts from all sectors into the affected areas. This can be
seen in the recent flooding where many parties such as NGOs come to
the aid of the flood victims. When this aid begins to encroach into
construction, in particular new homes, the end result is often
confusion and efforts that oppose one another. As aid parties and
locals alike rush into the rebuild efforts, it will be obvious that
these constructions:
i.
may be built in zones not gazetted in any local plan as residential,
ii.
may
not be built with connectivity to any predesigned or pre-laid
infrastructure – example – houses built in the surrounding may
have no proper or improper drainage or waste management that is not
related/linked directly or indirectly to the mitigation structures
iii.
may not comply with any state or federal Uniform Building By-Laws,
iv.
may not follow any council guidelines on building construction,
v.
may not be approved by council for construction,
vi.
may not be inspected by a qualified building professional, and
viii.
may not have any certification
The
issue here is the people living in the surrounding tend to relate
their problems with the proposed mitigation which may lead to
unnecessary disputes.
Although
of little relevance, but should there be any issues raised, the
Consultant, DID and the municipal councils should made it clear that
it is not within their jurisdiction but in order to get future
cooperation from the general public, meetings should be held with
other infra and building developers; if any; working in the vicinity.
Other infra and building
developers also need to work together with the Consultant and all
interested parties especially if the new housing or other
infrastructures - example on drainage issues and point of final
discharge that do not create a conflict with the proposed mitigation
structures.
I
always view the business of flood mitigation is always a business of
“saving people's lives” and “reducing losses of assets” due
to flood disaster.
Thus
I would like to suggest that the flood mitigation programs everywhere
in Malaysia should be expedited and I am pleading the Government to
provide more budget for a better and safer mitigation.
And whoever says Malaysia do not have the experts or expertise?
We also need to have all government and private sectors to prepare a Flood Disaster – Emergency, Evacuation and Recovery Plan. It should also include counselling sessions to the victims.
Don't wait for another flood to come..
A personal note : When I was co-training Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji on Flood Disaster, Emergency, Evacuation and Recovery Plan, there was a moment silence during the simulation and drills of Flood Disaster...the sorrow and traumatic experience can still be refreshed clearly - but it was a good therapy.
Let's
stop finger pointing...OK?
People are very impatient – some have been waiting for so many
years to get a better life without having to fear the monsoon season
with traumatic events everytime the coming of a new year. Let's also
not depend too much on bright sunny day – we need to have some more
concrete action and the time is NOW.
I
have so many parties and people to thank especially Department of
Irrigation and Drainage (DID), The National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), my fellow team of Consulting
Engineers, my fellow partner who recommended and introduced me to the
project and so many others who have assisted me to make this FRMP a
reality. The DID Guidelines, MASMA (Manual Saliran Mesra Alam), NAHRIM comprehensive researches
on Climate Changes are excellent!!
I
also have to thank National Security Council, Institution of
Engineers Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Architects, numerous
researchers, DEFRA UK, Department of Meteorology Malaysia,
Department of Environment Malaysia, Department of Occupational Safety
and Health Malaysia, municipal councils, SIRIM and other foreign
certification bodies and so many others for having excellent
proposals, write-ups, case-studies, guides, standards and codes of
practice, researchers etc – all published online for me to refer
to.
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