IPOH: The Ipoh City Council (MBI) has spent between RM7mil and RM8mil this month to prepare for the upcoming monsoon season, says Datuk Rumaizi Baharin (pic).
The Ipoh mayor said the preparation includes cleaning up some retaining pools and drains.
"We started our preparation earlier and just a few days ago we had a meeting where I approved several flood-preparedness plans for the city," he told reporters.
Rumaizi added that the council had also met up with the state irrigation and drainage department to discuss the flash flood nearby Chepor structured village scheme (RPT).
"I was told that there has been a complaint by the residents about Sungai Chemor near the RPT that has not been maintained for years.
"The river falls under JPS jurisdiction but I was informed that they also didn’t expect it to happen," he told reporters at MBI headquarters here Friday (Oct 7).
In September, Rumaizi said MBI was mulling building four underground water storage facilities as a flood mitigation measure.
On Tuesday (Oct 4) a total of 98 people from 33 families were evacuated to a relief centre at SK Sri Klebang after a heavy downpour led to the worst flash flood in years at the RPT.
When contacted, Perak infrastructure committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkfafly Harun said the upgrade at Sungai Chemor had been completed this year.
"A total of RM56,500 was allocated for the upgrade and restoration work at Sungai Chemor, Kampung Cik Zainal.
"However, due to the recent flash flood, several JPS personnel have visited the area to reassess the flood factor that occurred a few days ago.
"A necessary maintenance to reduce the risk of flooding will be implemented soon," he added.
