Littering is one of the causes of flash flood

suppadmin | January 6, 2022

Flash flood Human factor contributes to most of the blockage in drains and rivers which is why there were serious flash floods in the city nowadays.

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) chairwoman, Kho Teck Wan said she herself has given to the ground to study the situation and when Kuching City South council staff opened up the drain covers, it was mostly due to the rubbish and debries caused by excessive dumping of rubbish.

Thus, she pointed out that for those who litter, they themselves have to pay for the blame of clogged drains.

“Blocked scupper drain and covering up of drain in residential areas also cause flash flood during heavy downpour. These are issues that can be solved by city council once the causes are identified. There are bigger flood issues facing Kuching that can only be solved by improving the existing drainage infrastructure, ” she added.

Kho added that the state and federal Drainage and Irrigation Department conducted a comprehensive study which included impact of climate change and weather pattern analysis for 50 and 100 years in year 2013. Another study was done after the 2016 flood with the inputs from Dutch consultant.

The conclusion of both studies, she said, was an extensive flood mitigation project.

“Kuching City was given the priority with the first phase of the project addressing the stormwater and drainage problem at the critical areas identified. The project proposed by Sarawak DID was called Projek Pembangunan Lembangan Sungai Bersepadu (PLSB) Sungai Sarawak (Sg Sarawak integrated River Basin project) cost around RM150 million, ” she pointed out.

However, she said the project was put under review by the Federal Government after GE14.

Kho asked where were the YB from Kuching and Stampin when Kuching flood mitigation project was put on hold by PH government?

So far, there are nine sub-projects under the PLSB Sg Sarawak, i.e. proposed flood mitigation works for Sarawak General Hospital, Jalan Batu Lintang, Federal Quarters, Sg. Tabuan (impacting Jalan Foochow, Sungai Apong), Sg. Gersik, Sg. Sinjan, Taman Malihah, SK Muara Tuang and Taman Uni Garden.

“The project originally to be implemented under design and built concept has to start from scratch. And the consultant was only being appointed in 2020. Due to all these issues, the physical implementation of some flood mitigation projects only started this year. I had raised the concern of flood in Kuching and the need to address our drainage issue prior to 2018. I even put flood mitigation as one of my election manifestos in 2018. We may not be able to address all flood issues but with global warming and climate change, I hope all agencies and politicians take the drainage issue seriously before it is too late, ” she said.

Kho urged the YBs and MPs who have the political power to speak in the august house to focus on fighting for our drainage infrastructure upgrades instead of focusing their attention on petty issues and political dramas.