KUCHING: The Sarawak government has officially commenced construction of a third detention pond in Desa Wira, Batu Kawa, with a contract value of RM14.5 million.
This project, designed to alleviate persistent flood problems in the area, is expected to be completed within 20 months by July 2026.
Deputy Premier and Batu Kawah assemblyman Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian officiated the handover of the letters of award from the director of the Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Datuk Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi to the contractor.
“Spanning 5 acres, the Desa Wira detention pond is engineered to hold over 30,000 cubic metres of water—equivalent to 12,000 water tankers or the size of 60 detached houses. Construction began on Nov 25, 2024.
“The Desa Wira detention pond is the final milestone of Phase 1 of the Desa Wira/Kampung Sinar Budi Baru flood mitigation plan, valued at RM20 million.
“It follows the earlier launches of detention ponds in MJC New Township (RM19.88 million) and Pine Square commercial area (RM22.5 million), set for completion in May and November 2026, respectively,” Dr Sim said in a press release, Thursday (Nov 28).
“There’s a need for an integrated approach to combat Batu Kawa’s flood challenges, which have worsened due to rapid development in low-lying areas.
“Upgrading internal drains, expanding external drainage, and constructing detention ponds are critical to managing flood risks effectively.”
Phase 2 of the flood mitigation project, with an estimated RM40 million budget, is slated to open for tender next year.
