DID studying rainfall to predict floods

KUALA LUMPUR: The Drainage and Irrigation Department with cooperation from relevant agencies is conducting a new study on rainfall distribution, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister said the move was necessary owing to available data, which was derived from 2014.

Dr Wan Junaidi drew attention to the fact that in 2016 and last year, several locations such as Kuching, which had never faced floods before was flooded due to excessive rainfall.

“It is hoped that the study, which is expected to be ready in April, will provide more accurate data on areas at risk of floods,” he told reporters after opening the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre yesterday.

The centre, which started operations late last year, enlisted the Flood Forecasting and Warning System for three river basins, namely Sungai Pahang, Sungai Terengganu and Sungai Kelantan.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Wan Junaidi said the initiative (centre and system) costing RM550mil, involved a total of 40 river basins in which the work would encompass three phases. — Bernama