KUCHING: The long-awaited flood mitigation project at the Federal Quarters and Sungai Tabuan areas is finally ready to be implemented.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party Women’s Chief Kho Teck Wan said the Sungai Sarawak Integrated River Basin Project was a federal funded project under the 11th Malaysia Plan approved during former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s administration prior to 2016.
However, she said, in 2018, the much-needed Kuching flood mitigation plan was placed under review by the Pakatan Harapan government after the 14th General Election.
“After much delay the projects were finally given the green light to resume in 2020. Therefore, today the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, Kota Sentosa Assemblyman Wilfred Yap, and myself followed up with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Sarawak on the progress of the flood mitigation project for the flood zones along Sungai Tabuan and Federal Quarters near Jalan Durian Burung area.
“DID Sarawak Deputy Director Law Wee and his team of DID engineers together with project consultant took us to the Jalan Tabuan Dayak and Federal Quarters sites to explain how the new flood mitigation design will resolve flash flood issues in the neighborhoods along Sungai Tabuan and Federal Quarters,” she said in a statement today (Oct 29).
According to her, the 1,240-metre Tabuan River along Vivacity MegaMall and Milan Square will be dredged with a base width of 15 metres.
She said the 400 metres behind Satria Residence and near Kampung Tabuan Dayak will also be dredged with a base width of 15 metres.
“This project is estimated to be completed in two years and is expected to resolve flash flood issues along Jalan Tabuan Dayak, Lorong Tabuan Dayak 10, 10A and 12, and SK Tabuan Jaya.
“Moreover, a detention of one acre ponds, three reinforced concrete drains totaling 445 metres and culverts were proposed for flood mitigation at Federal Quarters at Jalan Durian Burung.
“This project, which will also take two years, will resolve flash flood issues at Federal Quarters at Jalan Durian Burung,” she added.
Having said that, Kho disclosed DID Sarawak stressed that although the proposed flood mitigation projects will resolve the flash flood issue at Jalan Batu Lintang and Sarawak General Hospital, it is not designed to prevent floods due to high tide and drainage blockage.
Kho pointed out that unlike what was claimed by Democratic Action Party (DAP) representatives as of May this year, DID Sarawak only received RM6.9 million for the payment of land acquisition at the Batu Lintang area out of the RM150 million allocated to the Sungai Sarawak Integrated River Basin Development (PLSB) flood mitigation project for Bandar Kuching.
“As DID Sarawak is getting ready to call for the tenders in early November this year, we are thankful to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian and his team who made a working visit to Natural Resource, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“The outcome of such visit has managed to get the kind assistance of Nik Nazmi to follow up with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to expedite all necessary processes including financial and administrative documentation by MOF.
“The collaboration between Dr Sim and Nik Nazmi has fast tracked the implementation of this project. Now, DID Sarawak is finally allowed to call for the tenders for these flood mitigation projects,” she added.
