‘RM100 million approved for 114 flood mitigation projects this year’
KUCHING: The state government through the Rural Transformation Initiative has approved 114 flood mitigation projects totalling RM100 million this year.
Currently, 97 of the projects ( RM45.78 million) are being implemented and 63 of them are expected to be completed within this year while the rest would be continued in 2018.
These projects are implemented by the local councils, Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and Public Works Department (JKR). Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister of Local Government
“These projects are implemented by the local councils, Drainage and Irrigation Department ( DID) and Public Works Department (JKR),” Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said in a press conference held on the sidelines of the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
He added that under the state Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP), 115 projects related to flood mitigation, with a total allocation of RM25.04 million, are now being implemented by DID and the local authorities.
“In addition to this, the Federal Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government ( KPKT) has this year allocated RM7.02 million to the local authorities in the state to implement flood mitigation projects,” added Dr Penguang ( BN-Marudi).
He also said the Federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) had approved RM27.55 million for DID to implement the flood mitigation projects.
Among the high-impact projects implemented, he revealed, is the Padang Merdeka Flood Mitigation Project which is currently in its third phase of constructing a new drainage outlet for storm water discharge at Jalan Masjid India, Jalan Market, Java lane and eventually leading to the Sarawak River.
The project, which costs RM6.9million, is implemented by Kuching North City Commission ( DBKU), he said.
Besides that, another project is the drainage improvement work at Jalan Green, Kuching under the 11th Malaysia Plan – implemented by DID since March 29.
Costing RM3,288,990, the project is now 90.63 per cent completed and is expected to be fully completed by Dec 12, he added.
Replying to the supplementary questions from Lo Khere Chiang ( BN-Batu Kitang) on the plan to construct a stretch of drain along Jalan Stephen Kalong Ningkan (in front of Capital Garden down to Hong Hong Garden), Dr Penguang said it would be implemented in the third quarter of 2018 at cost of between RM3 million and RM4 million.
“The project will be implemented by JKR while the design will take into account the advice of the DID,” he added.