MIRI, May 18: Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin has suggested that the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) clean rivers and drains at least twice a year to clear overgrown vegetation including fast-growing aquatic plants such as water lilies as they may cause flash floods during the rainy season.
Lee disclosed that river and drain cleaning work is currently only done once a year and this was insufficient.
“So in regards to this, I have suggested that DID carry out cleaning of fast-growing aquatic plants and weeds at least twice a year.
“This (overgrown vegetation) is a serious problem that has often caused flash floods,” he said when met by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) after a site survey of four river cleaning projects around Miri here yesterday.
The four river cleaning project sites are at Sungai Kecil Miri, Jalan Indah Desa Pujut 3, Jalan Perdana Tudan Desaras as well as Tudan Phase 3 and 5 which have been identified as flood-prone areas especially during monsoon season.
Lee, who is also the Senadin assemblyman, also urged DID to find effective solutions to address the fast-growing vegetation in small rivers and big drains.
At present, nine river cleaning projects involving a total cost of RM1 million have been implemented in Miri with four projects costing RM234,142 completed in Sungai Kecil Miri, Jalan Indah Desa Pujut 3, Jalan Perdana Tudan Desaras as well as Tudan Phase 3 and 5. — DayakDaily
