By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Sept 21: The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has been urged to conduct more regular maintenance of retention ponds and drainage systems to ensure no obstructions contribute to flooding in the Senadin area.
In a TVS news report, Senadin assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said cleaning works to remove aquatic plants, including water hyacinths and other vegetation, from the retention pond near Jalan Ilmu, which connects to Desa Senadin, have been completed.
He added that maintenance should also cover the main retention ponds and primary drainage systems in the area.
“DID needs to have a more regular maintenance programme for all retention ponds and main drains to ensure they are cleaned and there are no obstructions to the drainage system,” he said while inspecting the cleaning works at a retention pond in Senadin here today.
Lee, who is also Sarawak Transport Minister, said vegetation in the retention ponds grows rapidly and requires cleaning every few months.
He said coordination between the local authorities and DID was also important to ensure drainage systems under their respective jurisdictions were comprehensively maintained.
Meanwhile, he said a RM3 million special allocation had been approved for drainage-related works in the Senadin area, including Desa Senadin, Tudan, and Permyjaya, which he hoped could be used to maintain and upgrade drainage systems in the affected areas.
He also urged local authorities and DID to address rubbish and floating waste accumulating in the retention ponds.
Additionally, Lee said upgrading works on Jalan Ilmu, which was affected by flooding earlier this year, were underway with an allocation of about RM1.4 million.
The road rehabilitation works are part of a recovery programme following the floods that occurred earlier this year. — DayakDaily
