MIRI: Flood mitigation projects will be implemented in the city as part of Miri City Council’s efforts to tackle flash floods during the rainy season.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang said one of the areas the council was focusing on was Taman Tunku in the outskirts that was prone to flash floods during the rainy season.
“At Taman Tunku, the flash floods are caused by the siltation of Sungai Dalam as it is a low-lying area and rapid development is creating more surface run-off,” he said here yesterday.
Yii said one of the proposals to mitigate flash floods was to desilt the Sungai Dalam riverbed.
“Once the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has decided on the location of the desilting project, the city council will proceed with it,” he said, adding that the process would likely take about a week.
Taman Tunku, a growing residential and commercial area, is prone to flash floods when it rains for a few hours.
On the flash flood at the Pujut roundabout, one of the busiest roundabouts that connects to many commercial and residential areas as well as villages, Yii said a thorough study would be conducted soon.
He said an inspection carried out on the drain along Miri/Pujut, bypass road and Padang Kerbau road found that water flow was stagnant as it was clogged by debris. The debris was cleared over the last two weeks.
“The city council will have a meeting soon with DID, Sarawak Energy Bhd and road concessionaires working together with us.”
He said the mitigation project to be carried out along the roundabout and other roads would have to take into account the heavy traffic and underground utilities. --BERNAMA