malaysiangBATU PAHAT, Feb 17 — The projects to address the problem of floods and seawater overflow in this district and Pontian, which will begin next year, is expected to benefit 35,000 people in the two districts.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Datuk Mansor Othman said for a total of RM225 million had been allocated with RM190 million being for flood management works including river excavation, upgrading embankments and construction of water control structures in Batu Pahat district.
Meanwhile, another RM35 million is for work to upgrade and repair over 10 kilometres of coastal embankments affected by erosion in the Batu Pahat and Pontian districts.
“This allocation is the result of the implementation of the Batu Pahat City Environmentally Friendly Drainage Master Plan (PISMA) to produce long-term measures to reduce flood risk and reduce the impact of pollution on rivers and drainage, helping towards more systematic development.
“Besides that, it can also plan the implementation of rehabilitation and repair works related to flash floods and the imperfect drainage systems in the Batu Pahat area,” he told a press conference after inspecting the area affected by erosion at Pantai Rekreasi Perpat, near here, today.
Mansor said the allocation and the upgrading work will benefit 35,000 residents at the estuary of the Batu Pahat River starting from the Peserai fort, Batu Pahat to Tampok, Pontian.
He said detailed coastal survey and design work would be carried out in the near future and work tenders were expected to be opened at the end of the year.
“Floods now occur almost every month due to poor drainage systems and drainage problems. Floodwater depth was recorded at an average of 0.3 metres and every time it happens, 1,000 families are affected,” he said, adding that the project would be completed within three years.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
