By Sheeda Fathil
SABAK BERNAM, Aug 21 — The flood mitigation projects being implemented by the state government are progressing smoothly and with meticulous care, according to the state executive councillor for public infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim.
However, he acknowledged that a few locations have encountered minor issues related to the relocation of utilities and obtaining approvals from the highway authorities.
“We have many flood mitigation projects and most are progressing well. However, some have faced delays due to certain issues, like those in Taman Mutiara and Bayu Perdana (in Klang), which we expect to resolve within two months.
“The state government is continuously monitoring all projects closely to ensure they adhere to the scheduled timelines, aiming to resolve flood issues comprehensively,” he said during a site visit to the repair works along Jalan Bagan Pasir in Tanjong Karang yesterday.
Izham added that flood mitigation projects typically require a significant amount of time to complete due to the need for comprehensive and detailed studies.
“We need to design, acquire land, and in some cases, relocate utilities, which may take some time.
“Nevertheless, the state government remains prepared in the event of floods and has instructed the relevant departments to ensure that equipment and infrastructure are in good condition,” he said.
Last year, Izham announced that the Federal government had approved RM455.2 million for the Irrigation and Drainage Department to carry out four flood mitigation projects.
These comprise the Sungai Kayu Ara flood mitigation plan (RTB), Sungai Buloh RTB, Sungai Langat Phase One RTB and Sungai Kuyoh RTB, which are expected to take six to seven years to complete.
The state government has also allocated RM615.06 million to the department for 73 flood mitigation projects, in addition to RM41.4 million from the Drainage Contribution Trust Fund, covering eight projects.
Meanwhile, repair works being conducted on the 80m stretch of Jalan Bagan Pasir, Tanjong Karang, which was damaged due to a recent landslide, is expected to be fully completed by next week.
The councillor said that currently, only resurfacing work is being carried out before the road is reopened to the public.
He explained that the embankment collapse was caused by severe riverbank erosion, which also led to parts of the road to crack and collapse.
“The repair method used is slightly different due to the soft soil beneath. Infrasel Sdn Bhd has been tasked with carrying out the repair works, which included installing concrete piles, retaining stones, and road barriers,” Izham said.
