By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 2: The Phase 2 flood mitigation project at Taman Desa Wira in Batu Kawa is progressing 11 per cent ahead of schedule, with works expected to be completed by July 2027.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), the RM36.6 million project began construction in January this year and is aimed at strengthening flood protection for residents in the area.
Sarawak Deputy Premier and Batu Kawah assemblyman Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who recently inspected the project site together with officers from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak, said contractors must continue to adhere to contractual standards and timelines to ensure quality delivery.
“Regardless of whether funding comes from the federal or Sarawak government, our core principle since 2016 remains unchanged — prioritising project delivery to bring tangible improvements and lasting peace of mind to the people of Batu Kawa,” he was quoted as saying.
The project includes the construction of an 11,300-square-metre detention pond capable of storing up to 30,000 cubic metres of stormwater, a high-capacity pump house, a main switch room, an electrical substation, road upgrading works, 363 metres of upgraded drainage, and a one-kilometre flood protection wall.
The detention pond is one of four planned under Dr Sim’s long-term flood mitigation master plan for the Batu Kawa constituency.
According to UKAS, the Phase 2 project complements the earlier RM14.5 million Phase 1 flood mitigation works at Lorong Desa Wira 7, which features a 1.4-hectare detention pond with a storage capacity of 40,000 cubic metres. Together, both phases represent a total investment of more than RM51.1 million.
Once completed, the integrated system will temporarily retain excess stormwater in detention ponds before releasing it in a controlled manner into Sungai Maong and subsequently Sungai Sarawak, reducing the risk of flash floods during heavy rainfall.
The report also noted that the Sarawak government has allocated RM63.88 million for the construction of two additional detention ponds covering seven acres near Batu Kawa New Township and Pine Square Commercial Centre, together with upgrades to the surrounding drainage network. — DayakDaily
