THE Rancangan Tebatan Banjir Sungai Maong Kiri, Kuching, Lembangan Sungai Sarawak was recently approved by the Sarawak government under the RMK-12 Mid-Term Review (MTR) and is currently in the pre-implementation stage.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil said the project is expected to be physically implemented by the second quarter of 2025 and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
He said the scheme value of the project is RM120.5 million while the work scopes of the project include detailed design, survey works, soil investigation, land acquisition, construction and upgrading of drainage system at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho and dredging works.
He was responding to Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How (IND) during the Q&A session in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
“While we acknowledge that inadequate drainage systems built years ago, siltation of our drains and waterways might be one of the causes of the occurrences of flash floods in our cities, towns and rural areas; one must not forget that the global phenomena called climate change is equally responsible,” he said.
“As everyone in this august House knows and can even feel, climate change is already happening the world over, and Sarawak is not spared,” he said.
However, Penguang said the government being a people-centric will continue to undertake direct in-situ intervention measures such as upgrading of existing and dilapidated drainage systems and educate the general public on the proper disposals of waste to avoid or minimise clogged drains to minimise flash floods or severe flooding, especially in the urban areas.
