DID mistake rectified
Story by Chan Lilian
Pix by Law Suun Ting
DUE to a wrong specification provided by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to the developer, a short stretch of Sungai Jelutong that flows through Taman Free School has to be widened and deepened.
Jagdeep Singh Deo, exco member for Town & Country Planning and Housing, took members of the media to the site on June 18 to view the work to be carried out.
“I wish to inform the residents of Taman Free School about the work to be done here beginning today. I call for their understanding as the inconveniences they face now is for a better future without floods. I also urge DID and the contractor doing the expansion work to exercise care as this is a residential area,” Jagdeep said.
The cost of the whole project is about RM1 million and is expected to be completed by Nov 13.
The cost will be borne by DID as the mistake was on their side.
Sungai Jelutong is one of the contributory factors for floods in Sungai Pinang.
Jagdeep also revealed that exco member Chow Kon Yeow, through his Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation committee, had written to the federal government to get the RM150 million funds needed to upgrade Sungai Pinang.
“Under the Flood Mitigation Project Phase II by the federal government, 22 projects costing RM1 billion have been approved nationwide. Sungai Pinang is one of them and it is the most expensive, taking up 15% of the cost. Right now, for Sungai Pinang, we have nearly completed the relocation of the squatters along the riverbanks. To-date 90% of them have been relocated and works can commence soon.
“Hopefully, floods will become history once this project is completed,” Jagdeep added.