KUCHING: Measures are being taken to prevent floods in the Santubong and Petra Jaya areas.
According to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the drainage system is fully functional but during heavy rains and high tides, the drains will overflow.
“So the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has suggested water pumps for the areas. We just need to pump the water from the land to the nearby rivers,” he said.
“DID also requested for RM6 million for the water pumps in order to solve the problem,” Wan Junadi told a press conference after a briefing by the Public Works Department, the Rural Water Supply Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department held at the Public Works Department at Jalan Batu Lintang here yesterday.
The Minister, who is also the incumbent Member of Parliament for Santubong, said measures had also been taken to address the water problems in Lundu, Sematan and Bau.
He said the government had announced RM127 million for the implementation of water projects in Sematan, Lundu and Tasik Biru.
“They are only waiting for the appointment of the project consultants as the systems demand that the consultants be appointed by the state government and the lists of names be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in Kuala Lumpur. But due to the process as not only one consultant will be appointed, it will take some time.
“I will discuss with the Second Minister of Finance so that the process can be speeded up in order for the pipeline construction work to start earlier for the benefit of those living in Lundu, Sematan and Bau,” said Wan Junaidi.
