KUALA LUMPUR: About 20 families in Taman Pelangi, Sentul, had a wet and miserable holiday last weekend. Their homes were flooded because construction on the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), which began early this year, disrupted the normal flow of rain water. 

Resident Arshad Shaari, 41, said there had been minor floods in the area before but since construction began it had become worse.

"The flooding started on Friday after a downpour and continued into Saturday. The water only receded on Sunday," he said.

Some furniture and his 17-year-old daughter Normunira Arshad's schoolbooks and uniforms were destroyed.

The losses were estimated at RM1,000 per household.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has told the concessionaire, Konsortium Lebuh Raya Utara Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd (Kesturi), to compensate the affected families. How much they receive had not been worked out yet, he said, but it would not be less than RM2,000 per household.

"I have also asked the contractors to widen the culverts in the area to ease the water flow. They should be double in size. I have ordered them to do this within seven days," he said after a visit to the site yesterday.

Samy Vellu also told the contractors, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) and Ekovest Bhd, to put up warning lights and signboards at the construction area to warn motorists of the works at night.

The 18km DUKE expressway, which has cost RM750 million so far, would be completed at the end of next year. It connects the New Klang Valley Expressway's Jalan Duta interchange to the Taman Hillview interchange on the Middle Ring Road II in Hulu Klang.

It will pass through Jalan Segambut, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sentul, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Air Jerneh (Setapak), Jalan Semarak and Jalan Setiawangsa.