Safer life for families at Kampung Pulo Air at last
LUNDU: Five families at Kampung Pulo Air here can now breathe a sigh of relief as the government has finally approved a project to construct a bund to control erosion at the village.
Though it only involved five houses, this project is essential for the families, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“The situation faced by the families here is quite critical at the moment and if we do not take immediate action, it is at risk of collapsing in view of the looming monsoon season.
“Despite involving only five families, we have to stop the erosion because if a landslide were to occur at night, it may cause fatalities and so on,” he told reporters after visiting the project site yesterday.
On the project, Wan Junaidi said it costs RM180,000 and construction work will commence next week by the appointed contractor who must complete the project within five weeks.
The project under the supervision of Department of Irrigation and Drainage ( DID) includes the construction of a gabion, mangrove piling, concrete flooring as well as the cleaning up of the rivers.
On a related development, Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, said he would be launching a project in this district involving the construction of bund and erosion control along Sungai Kayan.
The project will involve five to six villages along Sungai Kayan with an estimated population of more than 1,000 people.
“Since I’ve started serving in this constituency from 2006, I found the erosion issue at Sungai Kayan very critical and many projects which have been implemented before this had failed.
“As such, I have asked DID to create a project framework using structure which will be able to withstand soil erosion,” he said.
After visiting the project site, Wan Junaidi also held a meeting with community leaders and party chiefs at Lundu District Office resthouse.
Apart from discussing problems faced by the people in the constituency, the meeting also touched on preparation for the coming State Election.
Also present were DID Sarawak director Chok Moi Soon and Lundu District officer Hamsein Atar.