FLOOD MITIGATION: Wong shows the implementation area for Sibu RTB Phase II.
SIBU: Implementation of Phase II of the Sibu Flood Mitigation Project (RTB) from Ek Dee Road to Alan Road here will start today.
State Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director Wong Siu Hieng said the project costing RM48 million was expected to be completed in two years.
“The components of the project are the raising of road level stretching 1.2 kilometres and building of a pumping station at Sungai Ek Dee.
“We will close one of the roads in the affected area tomorrow (today) to facilitate its construction,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting on Sibu RTB Phase II at DID Sibu office yesterday.
Wong said they could proceed with the project after having resolved related land issues.
He hoped house owners who had extended their fencing to the road reserve would cooperate when the department dismantled the fences.
He said RTB Phase I, completed last September, had been very effective in dealing with flood problems.
Two pumping stations in Ang Chui Kow and Loba Lembangan River built under Phase I had been able to flush out floodwater and reduce flooding in low lying areas.
He pointed out that Hua Khiew Road and Tiong Hua Road were not flooded even though there was persistent downpour over the last weekend.
Another two pumping stations near the 10th Battalion General Operation Force camp and Resan River were energised on Tuesday, he said.
“To say that we have done nothing so far is wrong. For the past three and half years, DID Sarawak has spent about RM300 million on Sibu RTB.
“We have also spent RM78 million under the Second Stimulus Package for urban drainage project to reduce flash floods.
“It included repairing and upgrading of drains and irrigations in Sungai Antu, Kampung Nangka, and dredging of Seduan River mouth.”
On a similar matter, Wong said the claim that the operation of Bakun Hydroelectric Dam had helped in mitigating flood here was not true.
“The catchment area of Bakun is only five per cent of the total Rajang River.
“Based on our technical point of view, regional flooding in Sibu usually occurred when king tide and heavy rain in the upstream of Rajang River coincide with localised downpour.”