KUCHING, Feb 3: A Democratic Action Party (DAP) member has warned Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) of possible flash floods affecting the local folk following the erosion at the Jalan Stakan riverbank.
Special assistant to DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian, said in November last year, a few trees were uprooted and fell into the river along Jalan Stakan.
One of the trees even fell into the compound of Lot 68F of Jalan Stakan, and DAP contacted MPP to remove the trees.
However, he said nothing had been done, despite a few MPP officers having visited the site.
“These trees which fell into the river then became an obstruction to the flow of the river. The recent heavy rainfall during the Chinese New Year period caused a substantial volume of water from the river to rush onto Lot 68F of Jalan Stakan. While doing so, it caused the collapse of the retaining wall along this riverbank.
“As a result of this incident, a significant portion of the riverbank has since eroded. The original retaining wall and riverbank were originally approximately 15 feet away from Lot 68F, but since the incident, the last pillar of Lot 68F is now merely six feet away from the riverbank,” he said in a statement today.
Kong further said the frequent heavy rain in Kuching, especially during the current season, poses a major concern because the river which runs along Lot 68F will most likely overflow its banks.
If this is to continue, he said the land would be further eroded until the foundation and/or structure of the house is affected.
“I have written to MPP and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to highlight this matter. I urge the authorities to come together and come up with an urgent plan for the safety of the residents here,” he added. — DayakDaily
