INEFFECTIVE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

A well-built and effective drainage system is very important in ensuring the effective and uninterrupted flow of water. This is because based on a good drainage system, excess water from residential areas, industry and cultivation land can flow easily. As a result, it can help prevent from negatively impacts such floods and contamination of water sources that can cause damage to homes and properties of community.

Therefore, I raise this issue in my writing because I hope the government is aware, sensitive and able to take immediate action on the drainage system, especially in rural areas.

Based on my experience growing up and still living in rural areas, I can say that there have been many changes in my residential area. It is without a doubt an excellent idea to build and develop quickly expanding residential and industrial zones, in addition to the growing human population in Malaysia. Therefore, more infrastructure needs to be developed to ensure that basic human needs are always met. However, when viewed from another angle, I see that this construction has caused various problems and has a negative impact on the environment and especially residents and villagers like me and my family who have settled in rural areas. Simply put, development that is carried out for the people but at the same time leaves the people to bear the consequences.

Among the effects that I can state based on my experience and observations is that recently there has been a sudden large flood in my village and nearby areas. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for this flood is because of the continuous rain. But logically, a good drainage system will be able to accommodate rainwater even in large amounts, so issues such as flooding and property damage will not occur.

The flood that has hit my settlement is the result of the large-scale development of infrastructure such as residential areas, schools and factories by developers. Rural areas are the main targets for the government and developers to make this development a success because urban areas are no longer able to support the construction of infrastructure due to the density of people, vehicles, housing and tall buildings. So, the alternative to this problem is to move to the countryside because there is still a lot of land and mountains that can be cleared for construction purposes.

Therefore, as a result of this human action, there has been a flood that has damaged hundreds of people's property, claimed thousands of human lives, affected the health of villagers and spread various types of diseases and viruses as a result of stagnant flood water, unable to flow due to a blocked and improper drainage system.

In addition, when there is construction such as houses, hospitals and schools, roads also need to be prepared to facilitate the movement of the local community from one place to another. The construction of new roads and the expansion of roads will cause more damage to the environment and at the same time be the main factor that leads to the emergence of various issues such as floods, loss of livelihood and increase of poverty.

Therefore, addressing the issue of ineffective drainage systems in rural areas requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving various stakeholders. Here are some steps that can be taken to cater the issue.

To begin with, good assessment and planning are required. An in-depth assessment needs to be carried out by certain parties before carrying out development planning, especially in rural areas. There are many factors that need to be considered by the developer such as the status and type of land to be developed, whether it is suitable to be used as a residential area, consent from the villagers and whether the construction of infrastructure can affect the health and well-being of the community in the future. Therefore, a thorough planning needs to be prepared such as not building industrial areas close to residential areas, providing facilities such as schools and supermarkets as well as an effective and efficient drainage system to ensure the continuous flow of excess water.

Next, establish infrastructure maintenance. The government and related authorities must prepare a schedule and conduct regular maintenance of the drainage system. This method can ensure and guarantee the continuity in the use of the drainage infrastructure and assure it remains functional and effective so that it can be used for a long time. Besides that, basic training in operating infrastructure can also be given to local communities. This is intended in the event of an emergency such as drainage not working or blocked, then immediate help can be done by the villagers while waiting for the arrival of the authorities.

In addition, government and non-government agencies (NGO) can also collaborate to ensure the construction and development of infrastructure runs smoothly. Investment in maintenance can be provided by non-governmental agencies such as allocating sufficient funds to help build an effective drainage system. This may include the installation of culverts, ditches, and proper drainage channels.

Last but not least, by putting these strategies into practice, authorities and communities may collaborate to lessen the effects of inadequate drainage systems in rural regions and build more resilient, sustainable environments that support sustainable cities and communities. I hope that the government and the authorities do not ignore this issue because as long as no action and changes are taken from the government, then the issue of ineffective drainage systems will continue and unwanted events such as floods and loss of livelihood will always occur.