Rep: Riverbank settlers need to move for anti-flood works

THE flooding woes in the Sungai Pinang area in Penang will not end until all the residents living on the river’s banks have been resettl-ed to make way for Phase Two of the flood mitigation project there.

Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo urged the remaining 30% of the 204 affected residents living in 101 structures along the banks of the Sungai Pinang, to vacate their homes.

“We are seeking the co-operation of these residents to come forward and have talks with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) on compensation.

“The project can only begin once all the residents have been resettled.

“This is the only way to resolve the flooding woes in the area once and for all,” he told a press conference at the site near Sungai Pinang recently.

He added that he hoped the project, which would take at least a year to complete, could start by the end of the year.

The project costing RM150mil is listed under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

It involves the widening and deepening of the river from Kampung Rawa to the Dhoby Ghaut bridge to help alleviate flooding in the surrounding areas.

Jagdeep Singh was earlier quoted as saying that he would shave his head if floods still happened in Sungai Pinang once the mitigation project was completed.

He said that so far, 70% of the residents living along the banks had agreed to the compensation deals.

Jagdeep Singh was commenting on flash floods which affected several low-lying areas recently.

He added that he had urged officers from the district office and JPS to clear the rubbish traps placed along the river more often.

“I was told that the JPS only comes once a month (to clear the traps). This is not enough.

“They have to come more often, at least once a week, as the water level will certainly rise whenever there are heavy rains.

“This will cause flash floods in the area,” he said. - The Star