The problem of flash floods in Kuala Lumpur will be resolved when the River of Life project is completed late next year, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.

He said when the RM4.4 billion project is completed, he is confident that it and the existing Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) project would be able tackle the flood problems.

“The area near the confluence (of the Gombak and Klang rivers) is already done. The prime minister has instructed to launch it by Aug 31, if possible, but it seems that it may be delayed because the conditions do not permit. But it’s almost done, with just a few more things that need to be sorted out.

“For the whole river, it (will be completed) in 2018. There needs to be widening and dredging of the river to increase its capacity, because it is shallow and sedimentation is causing problems,” Wan Junaidi said in Kuala Lumpur, when asked about the progress of the project...