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Bintulu’s flooding problems to be addressed

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Tiong King Sing

KUCHING: Various major and minor flood mitigation systems and other related projects in Bintulu have been reviewed and steps will be taken to effectively and urgently address the town’s prevalent flooding problems.

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

A recent flash flood once again proved the importance of reviewing its current drainage infrastructure and improving the necessary areas, especially those caused by human errors, said Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

According to him, one of the major resolutions of a special flood prevention meeting held at the Bintulu Resident’s Office was to widen the main drainage channel next to the Boulevard construction project side by two metres and deepen it by 1.5 metres from the existing dimensions of the monsoon drain.

“This is to ensure that the riverbed is deep enough to effectively discharge floodwaters. The retention pond will also be deepened by a further two metres,” the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president said in a statement yesterday.

He emphasised that it was crucial for the project developer to closely discuss the current development project and other related projects and buildings with the Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to ensure that current designs do not affect the upcoming upgrade works to the monsoon drain and its future maintenance.

“At the same time, the structure and design of the relevant construction projects should not affect the related monsoon drains and their future upgrade works,” said Tiong.

Secondly, he said a monsoon drain about ten metres wide will be constructed in Istiwajar residential area. He added that upon completion, this new drain should help divert rainwater from Kampung Assyakirin and Lucky Tower to the monsoon drains at the Bintulu Boulevard project.

“In Kampung Kemunting, backflow and inadequate drainage have caused multiple floods. The flood levels are too high for the current drains due to rapid development in the area,” he said.

Therefore, he said, they would divert part of the flow to Sibiew River.

He reckoned that for this project to success, residents near the river including those living in illegal wooden structures had to cooperate fully by relocating to a temporary residence as soon as possible.

“We hope that the related upgrading works can be completed early next year,” Tiong said.

He said that through mutual cooperation and coordination among relevant authorities in Bintulu, they would consider adding a new monsoon drain in Medan Jaya to discharge rainwater from Medan Jaya and Bintulu Sentral.

“As works on a new monsoon drain and deepening the retention pond are about to go into full swing, I urge the Bintulu Boulevard project developer and relevant parties to cooperate and assist DID in implementing the project smoothly in order to best serve the public interest.”

He emphasised that his statement was not aimed at criticising any party or unit, but to ensure the wellbeing and quality of life of the people in Bintulu.

“At this critical juncture, it is vital for everyone to work together to rectify the entire system and focus on the interests of the people. It is unnecessary and counterproductive to issue false statements and give unsolicited criticism,” said Tiong.

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