KUCHING: George Lam, the special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, has called for the prompt implementation of the Sarawak Integrated River Basin Development (PLSB) project to address flood concerns in Batu Lintang.
Following a visit to the Batu Lintang area yesterday (Mar 13), he met with residents in response to a distress call.
The Batu Lintang area, much higher than the rest of Kuching, is now synonymous with flash floods during heavy rains, with houses flooded to varying degrees.
He highlighted that the drainage ditch behind Lorong 8 in Batu Lintang is an earth drain that serves as a crucial outlet to discharge rainwater in the entire Greater Batu Lintang region.
However, he said, if left uncleared for more than three months, it becomes overgrown with weeds and plants, affecting the drainage which will eventually lead to flash floods.
He urged the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to take the residents’ plight seriously and ensure regular maintenance of the main earth drains behind Lorong 8, Batu Lintang before the flood mitigation project starts.
He said this would alleviate the risk of flash floods during heavy rainfall.
On previous announcements of flood mitigation projects in Batu Lintang, Lam pointed out that despite plans for construction works, the project has not started as scheduled after the tender for the works was called.
“In October last year, the Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and MBKS had announced that one of the projects would be carried out in Batu Lintang.
“It includes the construction of two detention sites of 1.5 acres and 1.9 acres respectively, and two drainage ditches with a reinforced concrete structure of about 300 metres long, but the project has not commenced,” he said.
Lam also urged the authorities to compensate residents affected by the soil erosion caused by the flooding of their homes, which had led to sinking fences and ground holes.
“The residents’ demands are not excessive, and the authorities should consider assisting the local residents in rebuilding their fences and sunken floors when carrying out the works, as the authorities have long ignored the importance of local drainage which affected their industries,” he said.
Lam urged the DID, MBKS and DBKU to promptly carry out flood mitigation projects in Batu Lintang, as further delays will only cause more losses to the local residents.
He said the Democratic Action Party’s Bandar Kuching Service Centre will be monitoring the progress of the project and will voice out for the residents.
