KUCHING: Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) will upgrade the old drainage system under its jurisdiction to address perennial flash flood problems there.
Mayor Hilmy Othman said the existing drainage system cannot cope with the current rainy weather with rainfall recorded at more than 150 millimeters (mm) at a time.
He disclosed that the upgrading project will involve drainage at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Kampung Boyan and Taman Murni.
“DBKU is trying to look into all the drains that we have to upgrade under the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and they are also examining certain areas.
“They (DID) will spend RM150 million to examine this matter,” he said during a special interview with Suara Sarawak and New Sarawak Tribune at DBKU headquarters here Monday.
In addition, Hilmy pointed out that the construction of a canal to divert water from the drains to the Sarawak River and Salak River as informed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof can mitigate the flooding issue in the city.
He said with the construction of the canal, the water volume will not only be concentrated on the Sarawak River, but also in the Salak River.
“I think it (canal construction) is a good step and I hope it will be implemented soon,” he said.
