Phase 3 Sibu flood mitigation project to begin next month
SIBU: Phase Three of Sibu Flood Mitigation project costing RM100 million will include having pumps to drain out excess water, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“The solution for Sibu is definitely pumps because of its huge water catchment area and water pouring into the bunding area, so the water need to be pumped into the river.
“The pumps are to be done for Phase three of Sibu Flood Mitigation Project... perhaps, we will (also) identify how many more pumps are required for the new phases after phase three (of the project),” he told The Borneo Post when asked whether there were pump stations to be included in phase three of the project.
Wan Junaidi said the launching of phase three of Sibu Flood Mitigation Project would either in February or March this year.
The Santubong MP also revealed that there would be two or three more phases for Sibu Flood Mitigation project depending on the government’s capacity.
He reasoned that there were many other states which were in similar critical conditions, namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, which required the government’s attention, including Penang.
“So based on this, we have RM100 million to be spent for Sibu ( phase three of flood mitigation project); RM150 million for Kuching.”
On whether the completion of phase three would ensure Sibu is free from flood, he pointed out it was difficult to answer such question.
He noted that even in developed countries such as Germany, England and Netherland, they were still besieged by flood.
He added there were many other aspects that needed to be considered and done like drainage and irrigation as not everything was handled by his ministry.
Currently, the five pump stations here are at Sungai Engkabang, Sungai Resan, Sungai Ek Dee, Sungai Ang Chui Kow and Sungai Loba Lembangan.
Each pump is capable of pumping out three cubic metres of water per second.
Separately, during the earth-breaking ceremony for the Batang Kayan waterfront project in Lundu on Saturday, Wan Junaidi said 11 new drainage and irrigation projects in Sarawak had been approved under the Second Rolling Plan, costing some RM94 million.
He, however, stated this did not include the flood mitigation project in Kuching and Sibu.