Proposed flood bypass channel will divert waters away from Kuching

KUCHING: A RM149mil flood bypass channel is being dug to address the city’s flood problems.

State Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Michael Manyin said the proposed 2km-long channel from Kampung Paroh to Sungai Salak was to divert floodwaters from the upper catchment area of the Sarawak River to Sungai Salak.

“The channel will be completed next year,’’ he told Abdul Rahman Junaidi (BN – Pantai Damai) during question time yesterday.

He said the project was part of a proposed RM2bil flood mitigation project for the city which was hit by one of the worst floods four months ago.

Manyin said that the entire project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the 10th Malaysia Plan, would include the construction of bunds, an access road, a barrage, tidal control structure, a rockfill dam and two bridges.

“Together with the existing barrage at the isthmus, the proposed project will be able to shelter the city from both torrential floodwaters from the upper catchment area and tidal surges from the sea,’’ he added.

Manyin said some 20 million cu metres of materials were expected to be evacuated during the project, and that they would be used for the construction of the bunds along the channel while the remaining materials would be disposed of at a designated dumpsite.

He said the dumping would affect part of the Kuching wetlands national park.

“An EIA (environmental impact assessment) consultant has been appointed to carry out a comprehensive environment management plan, recommend mitigation measures to minimise the impact to the flora, fauna and their habitats, and to establish an environmental monitoring programme,’’ said Manyin.