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Penangites demand early start of flood mitigation project

GEORGE TOWN: Fed-up with perennial flooding year in year out, residents of Jalan P. Ramlee here are demanding that a flood mitigation project currently in the pipeline is kick-started early.

The Sungai Pinang basin flood mitigation project is expected to begin construction in the final quarter of this year.

However, residents are impatient for it to begin.

Disgruntled resident Mohd Amin Mohd Fauzi, 34, said he is getting increasingly frustrated having to face the same problem several times a year.

"We are having a hard time cleaning up the mess.

"I do understand that even if the project starts earlier, it will only fully benefit us once it is completed. But will it ever start?

"The people responsible should (be) quick, start the project. At least, it will lessen our burden of facing floods the next time around," he said.

The three-hour heavy downpour which began at 6.45pm yesterday resulted in knee-deep inundations in various parts of the state, including flood-prone Jalan P. Ramlee.

The road became impassable to vehicles.

The flood began to subside at about 2am today.

Jalan P. Ramlee residents began a major clean-up this morning and workers from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) were also seen cleaning the muddy road.

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