Terengganu takes measures to alleviate flooding

KEMAMAN (Dec 27): The Terengganu state government, via the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), has taken measures to improve the water flow in flood-prone areas to alleviate flooding.

State Secretary Datuk Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail, who is also state disaster committee chairman, said the DID had cleared the waterways so that water could flow freely into the rivers.

“This is among the short-term and long-term measures to alleviate flooding in flood-prone districts such as Kemaman,” he told reporters after visiting flood victims at Balairaya Kampung Padang Kamunting, Kijal, here yesterday.

Wan Nawawi urged local authorities to study all aspects, especially the drainage system, before allowing the development of large housing projects.

“In Kemaman, rapid development of housing projects is being done in an open space or water catchment area. Expect problems later on if the drainage system is not in place,” he added.

Commenting on the flood in Kemaman, Wan Nawawi said that he was satisfied with the evacuation work carried out.

“The evacuation went on smoothly and assistance was delivered fast. The flood victims feel comfortable at relief centres despite the difficulties,” he added.

As at 6pm yesterday, there were 101 flood victims from 24 families sheltered at SMK Badrul Alam Shah, Balairaya Kampung Padang Kemunting and Balairaya Kampung Batu 9, Ibok.

“The evacuation centres were opened at 12.30am when floodwater began to inundate the houses of residents and a district flood operations centre was opened at 8.10am today (yesterday),” he said in a media statement here.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on Dec 27, 2016. Subscribe to The Edge Financial Daily here.