M Hifzuddin Ikhsan
ALOR STAR: For years over 1,000 residents in Alor Merah here have been living in constant fear of flash floods threat during rainy days due to poor maintenance along Sungai Alor Merah.
The river, which flows into Sungai Kedah has been clogged with piles of rubbish and uprooted trees.
Azman Ali Mahsen, 36, an imam at Ar Rahman Mosque here said last year alone, three flash flood incidents had occurred affecting some 200 homes in Jalan Sekolah, Jalan Dato' Syed Ahmad and Kampung Hujung Alor.
"Previously, these areas are only flooded during the rainy season but over the past several years, we have been hit by flash floods after a day-long of raining.
"Sungai Alor Merah is part of a significant history as it was used by the merchants to ship padi to Kuala Kedah port, but now it is in a sorry state due to development.
"There are many uprooted trees and garbage clogging the river flow, causing it to overspill to the settlements along the riverbank during rainy spell," he said when met here today.
Local resident Abdul Wahab Bakar, 74, claimed the last time there was maintenance and deepening work was over a decade ago.
He said the works spared residents from the threat of flash floods for just five years until disaster struck again.
"Maintenance work along Sungai Alor Merah should be done periodically as development is taking place every year, besides the growing number of populations along the riverbank.
"Besides villages, there are three housing settlements between the upper stream of the river down and Hutan Kampung, and these settlements utilise this river as an irrigation channel. Thus, the maintenance work along this river should be carried out annually to prevent flash floods," he said.
Anak Bukit assemblyman Dzowahir Ab Ghani said the maintenance and deepening work along Sungai Alor Merah is expected to begin in March.
"The work will cover a three-kilometre area along the riverbank and it will include the river widening work," he told reporters after visiting the site today.
Dzowahir, who is state Agriculture, Plantation and Transportation Committee chairman said the river has become shallow due to riverbank erosion over the last few years, causing flash floods.
"We have discussed with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to carry out maintenance work and clearing trees along the riverbank to prevent flash floods from recurring."
Dzowahir urged residents along the river to refrain from dumping garbage particularly plastic and agriculture waste into the river which is causing the river to be clogged.