PASIR MAS: The procurement process for five new projects, costing an estimated RM910.52mil to address flood issues in Kelantan, is expected to start next year, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The allocation shows our focus in resolving flood issues as the people in Kelantan have to bear the brunt of these floods.
“Flood mitigation projects are given top priority in Kelantan,” he told reporters after visiting flood evacuees at the temporary relief centre at SMK Agama Lati yesterday, Bernama reported.
Anwar also said the government had approved an immediate allocation of RM6mil to construct a temporary embankment, including the spillway structure for the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) to solve the problem of stagnant floodwaters in Rantau Panjang.
He said the temporary embankment needs to be constructed as soon as possible at three identified locations, with each location allocated RM2mil.
“I am not sure why the embankment broke, but the state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) proposes for a temporary embankment to be constructed.
“The department’s request for RM6mil has been approved. This job needs to be done as soon as possible,” he added.
Earlier, Anwar spent over 30 minutes inspecting the Lubok Jong Bridge and was briefed by a representative from the DID regarding flood situation in Kelantan.
It was reported that part of the embankment of the Sungai Golok PLSB in Rantau Panjang broke, causing water from Sungai Lanchang to flow rapidly towards Sungai Golok.
The Prime Minister also said that the Kelantan state government had agreed to expedite the land acquisition process, so as to enable the implementation of Phase 2 of the Sungai Golok PLSB project.
He said that an additional allocation of RM800mil had also been approved to expedite the implementation of the project, which is expected to commence early next year.
“We have to take immediate steps to implement Phase 2 because it has proven to be able to reduce the flood pressure there,” he said.
The Sungai Golok PLSB project, to be implemented in three back-to-back phases, involves an allocation of over RM2bil and is expected to protect 31,000 residents and 66,000ha of land from floods.
