BAGAN SERAI – A special RM800,000 allocation is urgently needed to repair a bund at the flood mitigation project near Sg Sama Gagah, Kerian, which was damaged following the floods that hit the area yesterday.
Perak Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Zolkafly Harun said the allocation would enable the Drainage and Irrigation Department to carry out repair work to strengthen the 2km-bund.
He said two points along the bund, measuring 30m and 10 metres respectively, were broken, resulting in some infrastructure in the area being inundated, including homes, schools, and oil palm estates.
“As a stop-gap remedy, we have carried out pilling works to stop water from overflowing continuously,” he said at a press conference after visiting the affected area and the temporary relief centre at SK Alor Pongsu today.
In yesterday’s incident, the bund was damaged following two days of continuous heavy rain. According to Zolkafly, this is the second time the area has been hit by a major flood since 2003.
He also said that the road between Alor Pongsu and Selama, along Jalan FT 1471 near Kg Matang Tengah, was closed to traffic after becoming submerged under 0.5m of water, posing a danger to motorists.
Affected residents in Mukim Beriah have been advised to evacuate to the nearby relief centre for their own safety, said Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He said that the affected residents need not fear being infected by Covid-19 as those who are symptomatic or are in close contact with infected individuals will be placed in a special room.
“This is due to our concern about the Delta variant, which can spread very fast,” he said at a press conference after visiting the centres at SK Alor Pongsu and SK Changkat Lobak today.
The former deputy health minister was commenting on residents who had expressed their concerns about being infected with Covid-19 if they evacuate to the centres.
He said that district health centres have been instructed to place those with close contact with infected individuals in isolation. Residents have also been advised to practice physical distancing and adhere to the standard operating procedures set. – Bernama, August 21, 2021
