DID: Stagnant floodwaters cannot be avoided for now

Photo courtesy of the Baling Civil Defence Force.

KOTA BARU: Stagnant floodwaters in some parts of Kelantan cannot be avoided during the rainy season as the capacity of the existing pumps to drain water is limited.

State Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director Kamal Mustapha said the department’s 15 mobile pumps could only do that much to reduce the volume of water as quickly as possible.

“The pumps would release the floodwater through outlet gates in Kelaburan and Pisau Raut,” he said when asked if the state had enough pumps to address the recurring stagnant floodwater phenomenon especially in Tumpat.

Folks in Tumpat are worst hit by the stagnant floodwater woes, as scores of villages would remain inundated even after it stopped pouring for days.

Kelantan DID has also outlined comprehensive short, medium, and long-term structural and non-structural measures to address flood woes during the rainy season.

Short-term structural measures include reducing risk of floods by widening and deepening rivers, stabilising riversides, removing hydraulic obstacles, and realigning the embankments.

The ongoing Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Golok integrated river basin development projects are part of the long-term plans implemented to mitigate floods, and create a living river as well as an environment-friendly irrigation system.

Another RM1bil is needed for a total solution involving projects in Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah and Jeli.

Non-structural measures undertaken include holding briefings on preparation and action plans, and disseminating information through website (publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my) and mobile application (KelGov JPS).

Long-term non-structural measures undertaken include flood survey, flood hazard mapping, and flood assessment.