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Water Champion: Tetsuro Miyazato
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Christina Dueñas of ADB's water team interviewed Tetsuro Miyazato, ADB Senior Project Engineer, about the Klang River Basin Environmental Improvement Project in Malaysia.
The Klang river basin includes Kuala Lumpur and parts of the State of Selangor. It is the most densely populated area of the country with a population of over 3.6 million (about 18 percent of the national population). In recent years, rapid and uncoordinated developments in the river basin have resulted in flash flooding, clogged drainage systems, pollution, and degradation of the river environment. The Klang River Basin Environmental Improvement Project aims to reduce the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of flooding and pollution through an integrated basin management approach. The Project's components include
ADB-financed loan consultants started work in February 2001, and preparatory studies on solid waste management have been completed, civil works on the tributary rivers are underway, and the design for a river basin organization to coordinate integrated management of the river has been submitted to the Government for review. Further work on the sediment traps and flood forecasting and warning systems is scheduled for 2002. |
It's mainly the citizens of Kuala Lumpur. The direct beneficiaries are the people living along the river; they are the first to see the changes when the river environment improves and the river again becomes beautiful to look at. It's not so easy to work directly with the beneficiaries of a preventive drainage or flood control project as we normally don't get much feedback from them when there is no flood. Their interest is really high in times of flood, when their livelihood and properties are affected. When there is no flood, they may think it's because the weather is good, not because of the work to improve the flood embankments through the Project.
Mainly through the second element of the policy-fostering the integrated management of water resources. This is the key component of the project. Not only do we aim to improve the environment and the riverfront, the Project will also introduce a new model of integrated water resources management through a river basin coordinating body with participation from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Selangor state. The Project is also related to the third element-improving and expanding the delivery of basic water services. The cleaner the river becomes, the easier it will be to supply drinking water from it.
The Government is strongly promoting environmental improvement, integrated river basin management, and flood mitigation. The Project fits these policy objectives.
This Project is not specifically focused on poverty reduction, but more on preventing economic and environmental damage from flooding, thereby improving the quality of life of the people living in Kuala Lumpur City. The Project will reduce people's vulnerability to the effects of flooding, which can severely impact on their livelihood and businesses. We know that floods will continue to occur, but we hope to reduce the chances of it happening in Kuala Lumpur City, thereby reducing people's vulnerability there.
Based on past experience, one of the challenges will be to deal with the slow decision-making processes. In particular, the process of establishing the new river basin organization will require some time, as it will be the first such body in Malaysia. Some local authorities may feel concerned that the river basin organization will influence decision making in their area. Also, there is the challenge of managing the river in an integrated framework involving the competing interests of Kuala Lumpur City and the Selangor state. However, the Government policy supports the Project's approach, and I am confident that a good outcome will be achieved.
Well, before the Project started, the Klang river was in a very poor shape. With the amount of garbage of any type floating around, my impression was that the people regarded their river mostly as a conveyance of garbage. The riversides were covered by huge heaps of garbage. When I visited again this year, the amount of garbage was considerably smaller and concentrated on one corner only. I noted that people have become more appreciative when they saw that their river was being cleaned up, beautified. You can now see them taking strolls along the riverfront. Rivers bring us life, and I think it's important that people can appreciate their local river as a beautiful and attractive place to visit. I have already seen that the people in Kuala Lumpur City are reconnecting with the Klang river that is running through their city. Hopefully, this will make them appreciate and care for the river in the future.
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