KUCHING: Tenders are expected to be called soon for the first phase of the flood mitigation project for Desa Wira, Batu Kawa.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg initially allocated RM20 million for the project and had later approved an additional sum of RM44 million for the second phase.
“We will proceed with the first phase of the project and the tendering process is expected to start within one or two months,” he said.
“Both first and second phases will involve the construction of a 1.5km-dyke or embankment, retention ponds, pumps,” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Dr Sim, who is Batu Kawa assemblyman said there would be an elevated space (on top of the dyke); designed for jogging, cycling, community activities as well as other facilities for the local communities.
Thus, it would not be merely for flood prevention, but also a new attraction in Batu Kawa.
On the recent flash floods affecting several locations in Kuching, he said, among the reasons could be climate change with excessive amounts of rain water, sea water level rise, urbanisation and development and low lying areas, among others.
All these, he said, required multiple solutions, such as Sarawak Urban Stormwater Management (SUStoM) and enormous amounts of funding.
He elaborated that flood mitigation comes under the Concurrent List of the Federal Constitution, thus, it is the responsibility of both state and federal governments, including funds for such projects.
As for Kuching, he said, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had announced the resumption of Kuching’s 8-km Sarawak River bypass channel which costs more than RM1.5 billion under the federal government; where Phase 1 was started by the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem when he was Federal Minister between 2004-2008.
