A lone staff from the government concessionaire hard at work clearing this drain in Dah Yeh Villa.
CITY HALL will step up action to maintain the backyard drains and reserves in neighbourhoods around the State Capital to minimise the likelihood of Aedes mosquitoes breeding in the run-off and overgrown grass in these areas.
The agency has also called on the government concessionaire to exercise diligence when it comes to cleaning the roadside drains for the same reason.
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A City Hall spokesman said the drains at the back of homes were cleared on a biannual basis, while the grass on the common land outside these premises was cut once a month.
He said its Landscaping workers recently attended to the drains in one part of Dah Yeh Villa, removing the mud and weeds from inside.
This pair from the Landscaping Department had their hands full clearing the weeds from this Dah Yeh Villa drain.
This work was carried out in stages: with a team of six initially dealing with one section off Lorong Kenawai 4, while a pair of staff went back several days later to clear a different section, according to him.
“Personnel from our Drain Unit used ‘cangkuls (hoes)’ to dredge up the layers of sediment which had settled at the base of the drains,” he said.
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“Any unkempt greenery on the shoulders or within these structures was cut with the ‘parangs (machetes)’ they had on hand.”
The spokesman said the agency’s grass-cutters were mobilised to tend to the grass in the common areas along the housing road around the same time, including the playground for the neighbourhood.
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“The concessionaire was informed about the vegetation which had formed in the drain in front of Lorong Kenawai 4.”
The spokesman explained that the company was responsible for maintaining the roadside drains in the neighbourhood.
MERV of Likas said the drains outside his perimeter fence appeared to be poorly cleaned as they were full of water vegetation.
“They are full of sediment,” he said. “This debris has built up into islands, in some places, which provides the perfect habitat for shrubs and other plants.”
While the drain behind his house was concerned, he said the weeds were thriving so much that they had begun to sprout from parts of the wall of the structure.
He said the lack of maintenance did not bode well for the well-being of the public living along Lorong Kenawai 4.
“I have noticed a lot of mosquitoes buzzing about inside my home at night.
The agency’s grasscutters tending to the grass in the common areas around Lorong Kenawai 4.
“Me and my neighbours could very well experience a dengue outbreak, as I suspect that Aedes mosquitoes may have begun spawning in the drains.”
Merv said this situation was further exacerbated by the dry weather in Kota Kinabalu.
The spokesman said an inspection was made of the housing road after City Hall became aware of his grievance.
The agency’s staff confirmed his claims about the drains around his house, according to him.
He said the concessionaire was apprised of these findings and advised to take the necessary action.
“When our personnel returned a week later, they found that the frontyard drain had been cleaned.
“We have urged the company to step up their efforts when it comes to tending to this structure and others around the neighbourhood.”
“By the same token, City Hall workers will try to come in even before the scheduled cleaning, to deal with any complaints involving the backyard drains.”
Merv was not the only ratepayer to express misgivings about a potential dengue outbreak taking place in his neighbourhood.
DINO of Kepayan was concerned that this might happen in Taman Selesa too.
He said the section of the drain outside his front gate was clogged with weeds.
“I suspect that the run off is stagnating inside,” he said. “On top of the stench coming from the direction of the drain, there has been an increase in the number of mosquitoes coming indoors.”
The resident provided Hotline with the location of his house which was forwarded to City Hall.
The spokesman said the concessionaire was alerted about the ratepayer’s feedback about the drain in question.
“A check of the neighbourhood several days later showed that the structure was clear,” he said. “The water vegetation had been removed.”
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This pair from the Landscaping Department had their hands full clearing the weeds from this Dah Yeh Villa drain.
The agency’s grasscutters tending to the grass in the common areas around Lorong Kenawai 4.
