TWO sabo dams at the foot of Gunung Inas, Baling, will be built as soon as possible to slow down the flow of water and block the flow of debris capable of causing catastrophic water surges in residential areas.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) will identify the location for the construction of the dams.

“In Gunung Inas, the DID said it wanted to build two sabo dams, with the first to slow down the flow of water and prevent felled trees from affecting public areas,” he told reporters in Alor Star yesterday.

He said the areas on the mountain damaged by the debris flow would still channel water in the future, even when rehabilitated by replanting forest trees.

He said the affected areas could be best protected by building a sabo dam to slow down water flow when it occurs.

Such occurrences were not limited to Gunung Inas, Sanusi said.

“What has been cut down or logged, in 30 years will become a forest again, even in other places if the forest area has become a waterway, the landscape will remain the same,” he added.

The flood and debris flow disaster that occurred on July 4 claimed three lives, including a pregnant woman, and affected 12 villages in Baling. – Bernama, August 14, 2022.