MIRI: Sungai Miri has been chosen to be rehabilitated under the ‘One State One River’ programme under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia.
WELL DONE: Uggah (right) inspects sine slabs with Dr Chan (third right), Lee (second right), Wong (left) and Chia (second left).
Its minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas yesterday disclosed that the ministry through the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has implemented various projects in Miri such as river management and coastal protection projects as well as flood mitigation and drainage projects.
“Various preventive and curative measures based on the integrated river basin management approach have been formulated for Sungai Miri rehabilitation project by the department,” said Uggah.
The sources of pollutants in Sungai Miri are from food courts, wet markets, squatters’ settlement and industrial premises as well as from development and agriculture and livestock farms.
The ‘One State One River’ is a continuation programme under the Tenth Malaysia Plan with funding of RM2 million under the first Rolling Plan (2011-2012).
In addition, education and awareness programmes including river rangers programmes and bio-indicator programme have also been conducted for government agencies, local community and students.
Uggah disclosed that some of the curative measures carried out by the department include the installation of five gross pollutant traps, installation of oil and grease traps in nine schools, river clearing activities and the construction of wetland at Permyjaya here.
The objective of the wetland project are to partially improve water quality and to transform the outlet drain at Permyjaya and its surroundings into living, vibrant and natural stream that can support the diversity of life.
Inspected the project site yesterday, Uggah disclosed that the scope of works includes the construction of three ponds, some cascading rocks to create aeration and wetland plants to absorb pollutant.
A ‘Bundalong type’ rubbish trap was included at the upstream of the pond and jogging tracks and some landscaping are provided around the ponds.
The project with a total cost of RM2.93 million was completed on October 28 last year.
“Under Ninth Malaysia Plan, Drainage and Irrigation Department has implemented three coastal protection packages at Lutong-Kuala Baram area. A total length of 3.87 km of rock revetment with total cost of RM19.6 million was completed,” said Uggah adding that the objective of these projects is to prevent further erosion of coastlines along Lutong-Kuala Baram federal highway.
Coastal erosion protection works at Taman Selera has been carried out with a total cost of RM462,800 which was completed in December last year.
The minister also inspected the flood mitigation and drainage projects in Miri City central business district.
The RM27.6 million project involving the construction of 2,723 metre of concrete drains was completed in February 2009.
Uggah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia and DID state director Wong Sui Hieng.