TAWAU: Rubbish collected at the collapsed pedestrian bridge along the Tawau River at Taman Ambar, will be cleared by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to allow water to flow normally.
Merotai assemblyman Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, who inspected the situation yesterday, said the rubbish would be cleared by DID once the water level was low.
Pang, who is also the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said DID would do a study before deciding on constructing a new bridge.
The residents there had called on the relevant authorities to clear rubbish that were trapped and had clogged up the Tawau River nearby, which was caused by a collapsed pedestrian bridge.
The concerned residents feared flash floods could occur as the river water flow is blocked by rubbish and other debris.
Continuous rain could cause flash floods in the residential area and also Kuhara area, the residents said, adding that it had happened in the 70s.
They are also concerned as the river water flow is now very slow and almost stagnant, which can cause mosquitoes to breed.
The pedestrian bridge was built to allow the public, especially school students from the other side of the river, to cross and go to their respective schools in Kuhara.