By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 14: Sungai Kampung Sageng riverbank protection project will be retendered in June this year, after the previous contractor was terminated.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the project was one of the four riverbank protection projects totalling to RM61.5 million under the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA).
“Out of the four projects, three projects have been completed and one project has been terminated.
“The re-tender of the terminated project titled ‘Proposed Riverbank Erosion Protection Works at Sungai Kampung Sageng, Simunjan’ is expected to be in June 2024,” he said when presenting his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
On other development agencies, he informed that Greater Kuching Coordination Development Agency (GKCDA) will implement six riverbank protection projects worth RM24.345 million; followed by Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA) with one project worth RM47 million; Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) – six projects totalling RM176,279,800 and Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA) – three projects totalling RM36 million.
He also said this year, the Sarawak government has allocated RM26.21 million under the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for river clearing and rehabilitation works which are expected to be completed latest by December 2024.
“Under the ‘Projek Rakyat’ programme, a total of RM449.46 million was approved for the implementation of 23 riverbank protection projects, one study and one upgrading of existing jetty project.
“The projects under detailed design stage are scheduled to be tendered out latest by fourth quarter of 2024,” he explained.
Meanwhile, under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the Federal government has allocated funds amounting to RM35 million for river rehabilitation works to reduce flood risk.
For this year, the approved fund is RM4 million with all the projects scheduled to be completed latest by December 2024.
At the same time, Dr Rundi mentioned that the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has four federal-funded coastal erosion protection projects totalling RM76.05 million.
Of these, one project has been completed, two are under construction and expected to complete this year, and one remaining project to be tendered in June 2024.
For the river mouth dredging project, Dr Rundi said there are three projects under federal funding, with a total allocation of RM26 million for river mouth improvement at Sungai Buntal, Sungai Limbang and Sungai Sebuyau.
“One project is currently under construction, another is in the design stage, and the third project is in the planning stage. These projects are to mitigate flooding and facilitate river navigation,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
