KUCHING: Sarawak should have a state cabinet committee that focuses on flood mitigation plans and programmes as flooding is a major public concern.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, who made the suggestion, said the public, particularly those who live by the rivers and low-lying areas, would become fearful every time it rains continuously for several hours.
“The threats of flash floods and the damage to homes and properties will increasingly
weigh on the people and the government, unless preventive and mitigation measures are promptly deliberated and put in place,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
“The frequent occurrence of flash floods in the state in recent months and the extent of damage caused to the families and state certainly call for a strong political will and immediate actions to resolve this issue.”
See, who is also state PKR vice chairman, said ideally the state cabinet committee on flood mitigation should be headed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
“Unless it is headed by Adenan, I don’t know whether it (flood mitigation plans and programmes) will be expedited and whether it will be seriously considered and completed promptly.”
He added that the committee should also comprise relevant ministers and heads of departments from all relevant ministries, such as resources planning, environment, housing, industrial and land development.
Departments like the Drainage and Irrigation, Public Works, State Planning Authority, Land and Survey and local authorities should also be in the mix.
See opined Adenan should not rely too much on State Disaster Relief Committee chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang as the latter had not been seen at any flood relief efforts during the last two floods in Kuching, Samarahan and Bau.
“We are talking about flood mitigation project and measures to prevent and mitigate flood. If we leave it to Jabu, I’m sure the project will not materialise.”
See stressed that policies and guidelines, particularly for urban development, housing, and the clearing of land and forests in the upstream of cities and towns, riverbanks and within the vicinity of cities and towns should be re-examined, revised and improved due to changing physical landscapes.
Of utmost importance and urgency is formulating and designing drainage master plans for all cities and towns in the state to curb the problems of flash floods.
“The state government should quickly look into developing and improving existing drainage system and devise plans to straighten, deepen, widen and cement the banks and substrates to form canals or monsoon drains in the cities, towns and suburban centres.”
See said flooding in many housing estates and commercial centres had been shown to be
due to poor planning and lack of strategic environmental and physical infrastructural development guidelines for consideration and approval of new building and land development projects, causing natural streams and waterways to be earth filled and diverted, to the detriment of others.
“We seek explanations from the government on the progress of the implementation of the proposed flood mitigation project to divert excess water from upstream of Sarawak River into the Salak River.
“The proposed project, budgeted to cost a hefty RM1.6 billion, to construct a 8.2km diversion canal and a dyke had been raised over the last decades and work was said to have started in 2009. The chief minister should check with the Public Works Department and reveal the progress of this project.”-Borneo Post
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