KUCHING: Sarawak JKR has issued a press statement regarding the problematic stretch along Jalan Batu Kawa here, which is flooded every time a downpour occurs.
The Public Works Department (JKR) will liaise with the relevant authorities, including local councils, to find a solution to the drainage situation right up to the Batu Kawa bridge.
Sarawak JKR would also get the road concessionaire to schedule periodic maintenance under its 2020 programme, according to the statement yesterday.
The statement was issued following a recent call by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman, to pay more attention to the drainage system and road conditions as well as to perform routine maintenance to ensure the safety of road users.
According to Sarawak JKR, the road was maintained by concessionaire DAL HCM Sdn Bhd, under the concession agreement relating to federal road maintenance in Sarawak.
Sarawak JKR was appointed by the Works Ministry as the government representative, the statement added.
The Batu Kawa Road (1-10A and 1-10B) is a 14.73km-long, dual carriageway under JKR’s jurisdiction, and is part of the federal trunk road, route 1 Sematan-Kuching-Miri-Limbang-Lawas Road.
The concessionaire had actually been reminded constantly to carry out routine maintenance along federal roads in the state such as maintenance of pavements, road shoulders, road furniture, grass cutting, bridges and culverts, road line markings and drainage, said Sarawak JKR.
“This is in consonant with its contractual obligations as specified in the contract agreement,” the statement added.
The department said the contractor had put in more effort to clear the drainage and weep holes along the road during the landas (monsoon) season.
It said in view of the fast-moving large-scale commercial and housing development along the said road, there was a need to relook into the overall drainage system in order to solve the flash flood issue.
