THE Perak state government takes flood issues seriously and has implemented several flood mitigation projects, particularly in the Larut, Matang and Selama districts, the state legislative assembly was told today.

State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the costly projects which included Phase 1 of the Sungai Larut Flood Mitigation Project implemented through the Irrigation and Drainage Department were constructed using federal government development allocations.

“The department is responsible for maintaining rivers to reduce the flood problem and one of the measures taken is dredging the rivers and building bunds with silt to stop water from flowing inland.

“The silt dug up from the river is not taken out since the transportation cost is high and this would require the approval of the district and land office.

“However, the department has forged a smart partnership with Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc.) to carry out the dredging work of the main rivers and the state executive council has given a blanket approval,” he said in response to a question from Khalil Yahya (PAS-Kubu Gajah) on the flood mitigation measures taken by the state government.

Nizar said that through the smart partnership, the soil excavated from the river is sold and this allows the state government to save costs and reduce flood risk.

He said the flood mitigation project is one of the long term solutions to reduce floods in areas at risk, but to implement such projects, detailed study and planning is required as it would involve high costs. – Bernama, December 27, 2022.