MITIGATING FLASH FLOODS IN KUCHING CITY
KUCHING: Construction work on flood mitigation projects under the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) jurisdiction can only commence next year, said Cr Kho Teck Wan.
In giving her assurance that the council was pushing to expedite the project to materialise, Kho explained the delay on its implementation was due to retendering process by the previous federal Pakatan Harapan government.
“To control flood and better manage the irrigation system in the city, the State Irrigation and Drainage department (DID) had proposed the Sg Sarawak integrated River Basin project (Projek Pembangunan Lembangan Sungai Bersepadu – PLSB) Sungai Sarawak with a total cost of RM150 million in 2018.
“There are nine sub-projects under the PLSB Sg Sarawak. The flood mitigation works proposed included drainage system at Sarawak General Hospital, Jalan Batu Lintang, Federal Quarters, Sg. Tabuan, Sg. Gersik, Sg. Sinjan, Taman Malihah, SK Muara Tuang and Taman Uni Garden.
“The project was originally to be implemented under design and build concept.
“The tender for consultancy services for detailed design was called in July 2019. And the consultant was only appointed on February 28 2020.
“The project, however, was put under review by the Federal government after GE14, and was only given the green light to proceed after more than a year,” she explained in a statement yesterday.
Stressing that the existing drainage infrastructure needed to be deepened, she urged citizens to keep the city clean.
“This is because the excessive dumping of rubbish in the drain and river has caused flash floods in MBKS areas.
“Blocked scupper drains and covering up of drain in residential areas also cause flash flood during heavy downpour.
“This flash flood issues, thus, can only be solved by improving the existing drainage infrastructure.
“I urge citizens of Kuching City South to keep Kuching clean. Don’t litter as the trash may end up in the drains and cause flash floods in certain neighbourhoods.
“I also notice many used face masks being disposed at the parking lot of commercial and public areas.
“These masks not only block the drain, pose potential health issue to people, but also contaminate the river and sea. Let us play our part to keep our environment clean and safe,” she added.
