Project sets out to solve Kuching’s flood woes
Works on canal still in the pipeline, mechanism involves diverting water from Sungai Sarawak to Salak River
KUCHING: A canal to divert water from the Sarawak River to Salak River will be constructed as the means to solve the flooding issue affecting the city.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, this is one of the proposals made under the flood mitigation project for Kuching, which is currently in the pipeline.
“The project is currently in the planning stage.
“What we want to do is to control the water volume so that it will not only concentrate in the Sarawak River, as it can be diverted to other areas in the Salak River.
“Hopefully with the completed design, and having already appointed the consultant for the project, we hope that the works could begin next year,” said the Petra Jaya MP when asked about the flooding issues here.
He was met by reporters after attending a ‘Back to School 2024 for Petra Jaya’ event at Kampung Malaysia Jaya here yesterday.
Adding on, Fadillah said the design of the canal was being done by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak.
He also said the flood mitigation projects in Sarawak would be carried out in phases, depending on the availability of funds.
In this regard, Fadillah pointed at the Sibu Flood
What we want to do is to control the water volume so that it will not only concentrate in the Sarawak River, as it can be diverted to other areas in the Salak River. Hopefully with the completed design, and having already appointed the consultant for the project, we hope that the works could begin next year.
— Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister
Mitigation Plan as a good example of a project meant to solve flood issues.
“For example, the completion of several pump stations in Sibu, which are all part of the Sibu Flood Mitigation project.
“That is why today, we do not hear much about flash floods hitting Sibu,” he said.
Floods had hit the southern area of Sarawak from March 2 to 5, causing over 1,000 people to be evacuated to relief centres.