Kota Kinabalu: People living in water catchment areas in several Putatan villages may no longer suffer from flood impacts during heavy rain when the Moyog Integrated River Basin Development project with upgrading works on the Putatan River and related works (Package 3) is completed by Dec 31, next year.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said his ministry through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is currently implementing the RM131 million Federal-funded project in Kg Tebongon, Kg Sailan, Kg Teguli and Kg Ulu Putatan which includes the Putatan River catchment.
He said the progress of physical work on site is currently 74.43pc and 12 days ahead.
“Among the status of works carried out are preliminaries and general items at 96 per cent completed, building the bridge at 55pc, contiguous bored pile at 97pc, building flood bund at 49pc, building retaining walls at 89.26pc, constructing Trapizoidal River Channel at 83pc, flood gate a 58pc outfall/outlet drain at 80pc, building flow control structure at 78pc, building jetty at Kg Sipanggil (yet to start) and removal of utilities at 70pc.
“A total of 89 structures, including squatter houses, are within the project range that need to be demolished or removed and is one of the obstacles in implementing the project.
“The DID has applied to obtain approval for the demolition of these squatter houses to the Land and Survey Department,” he said when replying to Petagas Assemblyman Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah during question time at the State Legislative Assembly, Thursday.
For Kg Ketiau, he said DID is currently implementing the Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) project of Sungai Ketiau under the allocation of the Federal Government which is scheduled to be completed on Oct 30, next year.
“The progress of the physical work on the site is currently 8.47pc.
“A total of 78 squatter houses are located in the project range that need to be moved or demolished and again, it is one of the obstacles in implementing this project.
“The DID has applied to the State Government to obtain approval for the compensation for these squatters,” he said.
According to current policies and laws, he said only RM50,000 compensation is given, especially to those living illegally in the area within the project site.
“If there is a flood and this project not completed, then the flood water will not flow as the sea level will rise,” he said.
On construction of a flip gate, Dr Jeffrey said he will forward the recommendation to the Federal and State DID to be considered as the Petagas Assemblyman claimed that the flip gate will close automatically when full of flood water.
“We will get the necessary department to look into the proposal so that excess water does not enter the affected villages in Petagas and Putatan River,” he said.
Replying to Darau Assemblyman, Azhar Datuk Matussin, Dr Jeffrey said the flood mitigation project at Sungai Rampayan is being carried out and has been slightly changed to reduce cost and to ensure only a few people are affected by the project.
“The issues related to the relocation of the people has been resolved and permission to demolish their houses has been obtaine,” he said.
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