KUCHING – A canal to divert water from Sg Sarawak to Sg Batang Salak will be constructed to solve the flooding issue in Kuching, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony in Kg Malaysia Jaya today, he said the construction of the canal was one of the proposals for the flood mitigation project, which is currently in the pipeline.
“With this canal, the water channel will be split into two and will no longer be concentrated in Sg Sarawak alone.
“But (the water) will also go to other areas in Sg Salak,” the Petra Jaya MP said when asked about the recent flooding in Kuching.
Fadillah said the design of the canal was being carried out by the Sarawak Irrigation and Drainage Department, and once the design was completed it would be open for the tendering process.
“The project is currently in the planning stage. What we want to do is to divide the water volume so that the water will not only concentrate in Sg Sarawak, but also in other areas in Sg Salak.
“Hopefully with the completed design, and since we have already appointed the consultant for the tender, we hope the project can begin next year,” he said, adding that the flood mitigation projects in the state would be carried out in phases, depending on the availability of funds.
Fadillah also said that the Sibu Flood Mitigation Plan was one of the examples that had solved flood issues.
“For example, the completion of several pump stations in Sibu. It was part of the Sibu Flood Mitigation project. That is why today, we do not hear so much about flash floods in Sibu,” he said. – March 9, 2024