State eyes hi-tech mapping for town planning
KUCHING: The state government is looking into implementing a mapping technology into its town planning to ensure that the development of cities in the state are well planned.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, the mapping would also take into account the drainage around the city, as a weak drainage is the cause of floods.
“We must have mapping on our drainage system so that we would know where the drains are. We don’t want to end up constructing building right where the drains are located because without proper planning, this could lead to clogged drains and cause flooding.
“In fact, I have seen some development projects where the developers forgot all about the drainage – this causes flood problems, particularly during the rainy season in Kuching city as well as Kota Samarahan,” he said in launching the Sarawak River Integrated River Basin Development Project ( PLSB) at Dataran MJC in Batu Kawah here yesterday.
As such, Abang Johari pointed out that the State Planning Authority ( SPA) is now working together with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage ( DID) to map the city’s map drainage to ensure that the city could be planned properly.
Apart from that, he also noted that the state government would be working together with the federal government to explore a short-term solution in mitigating flood problems here, in addition to carrying out ongoing flood mitigation projects across the state.
This, he said, would include devising a storm water management system to ensure that rainwater would not collect in certain areas.
“Through this system, the water would instead flow directly to the underground, or to a man-made pond for the water to be stored,” he added.
Abang Johari also announced an approved allocation of RM5 million to develop ‘ Batu Kawah Waterfront’ as proposed by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman.
The chief minister said the waterfront would serve as a recreational place for people of all ages in the area to practise a healthy lifestyle.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Dr Sim, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment secretary- general Datuk Seri Azizan Ahmad, DID directorgeneral Dato Dr Md Nasir Md Noh and DID Sarawak director Chok Moi Soon were also present.