KUCHING: A total of 21 new hydrological stations will be set up and 67 existing hydrological stations upgraded throughout Sarawak under the National Hydrological Network Programme.
Minister of Housing, Local Government and Public Health Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian revealed that contract works costing RM8.97 million are currently ongoing and expected to be completed in July this year.
For sustainable water resource planning in Sarawak, he said the expansion of the hydrological network is to carry out a water balance study as well as to establish a flood forecasting and warning system.
“A Water Balance Study for Sungai Similajau Basin in Bintulu is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed in September this year. The findings of the study will be used to develop a Water Resources Management and Decision Management Support System (DMSS).
“Besides that, a flood forecasting and warning system for Sungai Sarawak and Batang Rejang with a project cost of RM34.2 million is currently under detailed design. The tender is expected to be called soon,” he said during his ministerial winding up speech on today.
On state funded projects for urban drainage and flood mitigation, Dr Sim who is also the Deputy Premier disclosed that the state government has allocated RM14.7 million this year for the implementation of numerous flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects.
He said out of this, RM7.5 million is for three urban drainage improvement projects and one hydrography survey work.
“One of the drainage improvement works is at Kampung Jeriah Sibu (Phase 2) which is expected to complete by middle of November this year. The other two drainage improvement works are in Kubong, Limbang, and Kota Samarahan – Phase 1 (Taman Desa Ilmu) and both are currently at the design stage.
“The survey job is Cadangan Kerja-Kerja Hidrografi Batang Rejang and Batang Igan dari Muara Sungai sehingga ke Bandar Kapit dan Pelagus (370 kilometres). This project is to carry out hydrography survey to determine the severity of sedimentation problems in Batang Rejang and Batang Igan. Currently, it is at a consultancy appointment stage,” he said.
He said that the remaining RM7.2 million is for five flood mitigation projects which include RTB Sibu (Phase 4), RTB Bintulu (Phase 2), RTB Miri (Phase 2), RTB Sungai Semariang, and drainage improvement works at Jalan Datuk Amar Kalong Ningkan and Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli.
“All the four RTB projects are currently under the consultancy appointment stage. The drainage improvement project is under the detailed design stage,” he said.
Dr Sim disclosed that since 2018, RM515 million was allocated for the implementation of 127 Projek Rakyat of which RM34 million is made available in 2022 for 50 projects of which 23 are currently under construction and the remaining 27 are under the design stage.
“Under the RTP for 2021 the department has been allocated with RM78 million to implement 497 projects in various divisions. Out of this, 316 have been completed.
“The remaining 181 are in various stages of implementation. In 2022, 537 projects with a total cost of RM89 million were approved and are currently under various stages of implementation,” he added.
