REASON FOR INCREASE IN EVACUEES
Water from upper reaches of rivers flooding low-lying areas
THE number of flood evacuees in Kedah is expected to fall today as water levels in the main rivers return to normal. State Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) acting director Baharuddin Abdullah told the New Straits Times that water from the upper reaches of the rivers was expected to reach the Straits of Malacca today.
Baharuddin added that the two flood-mitigation projects in Kota Setar district had helped reduce the impact of the flood, especially in Anak Bukit and Gunung in Kota Star.
“Although the projects are about 70 per cent complete, we are able to use them to channel water from the main rivers.
“We also have Mada canals that help distribute the overflowing water,” he said.
Baharuddin was commenting on the soaring number of flood evacuees in the state despite fairer weather over the past few days.
He said this was due to water from the upper river flowing to the sea, and flooding the lowlying areas.
Baharuddin added that there was unusual heavy rain on Thursday and Friday, but it did not occur in the state’s water catchment areas — Pedu and Beris dams.
He said this had caused the rainfall to flow into Sungai Pedu, Sungai Laka and Sungai Padang Sanai rivers.
“We have to use the Jitra and Pelubang regulators to divert the water to several rivers and to the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) canals.”
He said the water level in Sungai Pedu in Sungai Kuala Nerang dropped to 16.03m, lower than its normal level of 16.05m yesterday.
Baharuddin said normally it would take about 10 hours for the water from Sungai Pedu in Kuala Nerang to reach Sungai Tanjung Pauh in Jitra and about three hours for water from Sungai Tanjung Pauh to reach Sungai Anak Bukit in Kepala Batas.
He said the department had been assured by Mada that the Ampang Jajar barrage doors would be opened to channel the excess river water to the sea.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the state government would distribute RM100 to each family affected by the flood.
Bashah said the aid would be given to families who had registered with the state Welfare Department at flood relief centres.
Civil Defence Force directorgeneral Major-General (Retired) Datuk Azmy Yahya commended the agency’s 700 staff and officers for helping flood victims in Kedah and Perlis.
“We also received good cooperation from other agencies and department during our operation,” he said after visiting SK Titi Gajah yesterday.
As at 4pm yesterday, 3,439 flood victims from 1,014 families were at 22 flood relief centres in Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu and Pendang districts.