Dredging of Rajang, Igan rivers fails to mitigate flood, creates bigger area of siltation at the confluence
An aerial view of the second phase of the flood mitigation project.
The re-siltation after dredging creates a bigger ‘island’ (right) at the confluence.
Wong Siu Hieng
SIBU: The RM10 million spent on dredging the confluence of Batang Rajang and Batang Igan at a point near Pulau Kerto was a total waste of money and effort.
State Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director Wong Siu Hieng said the measure which took five months from February 2012 to complete had proven to be ineffective in mitigating flood here as the dredged area had now re-silted.
To add insult to injury the re-silting of the river had created an even bigger island than before, he added “The RM10 million would have been better spent on the flood mitigation project in Upper Lanang Road rather than wasting it on the (dredging) project.”
With failure of the dredging near Pulau Kerto, Wong suggested shelving the dredging at five other areas at Tanjong Kunyit, Paradom and Batang Igan.
“Remember that a few years back the opposition told the government to dredge the river instead of building flood gates and bunds to reduce flooding here?
“We said that dredging was not a long term solution and we are proven right. In the future, we must not follow public opinion for technical decisions,” he said.
Wong was speaking at a press conference at the DID office in Wisma Sanyan here yesterday after being briefed on the causes of delay of the second phase of flood mitigation project involving the 1.2-km stretch from Ek Dee Road to Alan Road here which was initially scheduled to be completed in August this year .
Touching on the project, the DID director said his department would continue to bid for funds to complete the flood mitigation project under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
He added that the project costing some RM650 million was being implemented in phases.
“The first phase of the project costing RM138 million in Upper Lanang Road area started in February 2009 and was completed in September 2012.
“We are now implementing the second phase which is expected to be completed in December this year.”
However, up to last month, it was only 80 per cent completed, he said.
He said works on the project costing RM46.8 million started in May 2012.
“The scope of works involves the continuation of the raising of Upper Lanang Road until Ek Dee Road, drainage improvement alongside the road and building two tidal control gates and a pumping station at Sungai Ek Dee.
“The pumping station will have four submersible pumps to release flood water,” he said.
Wong said the contractor had asked for extension of time and promised to finish the work by December this year.
According to Wong, the delay was due to land issue, relocation of various utility services at the site, encroachment of existing fencing to the project boundaries and construction of additional culverts to replace existing ones found to be in poor condition.
“DID has regular site inspections as well as coordinating meetings with all the departments and agencies involved to discuss and resolve site issues,” he said.