GEORGE TOWN – After decades of battling floods every time the rainy season arrives, the Sg Pinang enclave, famous for being inundated with shoulder-high water levels, has finally caught the attention it deserves from the federal government.
Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that the RM150 million Sg Pinang flood mitigation plan project will be included in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (RMK12) rolling plan.
The assemblyman said he was informed last week on the commencement of the project’s physical work, expected to start in August 2021.
According to Penang Irrigation and Drainage Department project engineer Hanizan Mokhtar, the project will start from Jalan Ahmad Nor, involving an underground drainage system connected to Jalan Sir Ibrahim.
“Rainwater will flow from the Jalan Besi and Jalan Tembaga culverts all the way to the Jelutong river, of which there are three tributaries for that river alone.
“So we intend to block two tributaries and redirect it so that it won’t gush into the P. Ramlee area, which is prone to floods.
“I know it seems far away from Sg Pinang, but it is all linked. The Sg Pinang basin consists of many tributaries, which altogether measure 52 kilometres,” she said.
She hoped that the physical project would take off without any delay in August 2021.
The Sg Pinang project is the biggest flood mitigation project in the country managed by the Irrigation and Drainage Department.
Meanwhile, a small-scale flood mitigation project spearheaded by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has also taken off.
The project, which kicked off in August this year, will raise road levels to match the houses scattered around the area and widen the drains. The project is expected to be completed by August 2021.
According to MBPP director engineer Rajendran Anthony, upgrading work has been ongoing, with a water pump placed last year to harvest water out into Sg Jelutong.
“We know big floods and flash floods often happen here during the rainy season because it is a low-lying area.
“Now, we have a medium and long-term plan to address the flood issue here. We will increase the drainage capacity at Jalan P. Ramlee by upgrading the existing drain to a width of between 1.5m to 2.1m from 0.6m to 0.9m previously.
“Jalan P. Ramlee's low-lying road level will also be raised by an average of 0.5m higher than the existing level, starting from the Jalan Ismail Cik Mat intersection to the Jalan Perak junction. This project will cost RM 3.62 million,” he said.
Jagdeep said that the paving of these roads is important not only for the comfort of road users but also for their safety to prevent flash floods. The city will redraw faded road lines and repair potholes, if any.
He extended his appreciation to the federal government for looking into this issue which has plagued the state for about 20 years due to an incomplete project in Sg Pinang.
It was brought to a halt due to the numerous squatters living along the riverbank.
“Now that we have handled the squatters issue, the project can continue. I would like to stress that floods do not recognise political affiliations. Help must be given to the rakyat regardless of their political beliefs.” – The Vibes, December 20, 2020
