MIRI: The law on sedimentation control should be extended to Sarawak, especially to Miri, as one of the ways to curb flooding problems.
ON THE GROUND: Law (second right) explains to (from left) Lai, Chia and Kho on the proposed gabion protection for the eroded drains at Strawberry Park.
Divisional Engineer of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Law Wee said this law had been enforced in the peninsula since three years ago.
“This law is vital in order to get developers to exercise proper control when dealing with land clearing and deposit of sediment. Without it the sediments could clog rivers and drains and consequently frequent flash flood would occur when heavy rain arises.
“This is what happened at Sungai Dalam although DID had dredged the river in November last year at a cost of RM50,000. A flash flood occurred few days ago and we have to do another dredge before the Chinese New Year celebration.
PREVENTION: Gabion protection at Strawberry Park.
“We can’t afford to keep on dredging the river like this,” stressed Law to reporters yesterday during a joint-inspection with Miri City Council (MCC) mayor Lawrence Lai. Also present were MCC city engineer Chia Kwong Fat and the coordinator of the Residence Committee Kho Seng Hai.
Law said in the meantime, his boys would try to persuade developers in Miri to exercise proper controls on sediments at their respective project sites.
He added that DID also need substantial allocations to implement various proposed projects in the city, such as building of retention ponds, monsoon drains and diversion tunnels.
“For the two proposed retention ponds behind the army camp alone will cost about RM6 million.
“The retention ponds are to prevent frequent flash floods at the nearby Kampong Luak. Unless DID get the fund by the mid-term review and implement it in the tenth Malaysia Plan, the people in the area will have to bear with flooding problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lai said MCC would continue to carry out various drainage projects to mitigate floods and to ensure a clean environment.
In the pipeline are the construction of reinforced drains at Adong 3 and 3B costing RM300,000. Tender for the project will be called soon and works are expected to start by March.
Miri division recorded unusually heavy rain since last Friday, causing areas such as Marudi, Tinjar, Tutuh Apoh, Niah, Bekenu and some parts of the city to be flooded.