The Government has approved an allocation of RM800mil for flood mitigation projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) to overcome flooding problems in Kelantan.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said RM300mil would be utilised for Sungai Golok and RM500mil for Sungai Kelantan flood mitigation projects.

He said the projects included deepening the two rivers and constructing embankments along the river banks to prevent water from overflowing during a downpour.

“Initially, we were targeting to complete the projects in about three years but have extended them to five years as they will involve land acquisition,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid after visiting former army commando Abu Bakar Md Ahmad who suffered from hypertension at his house in Taman Bukit Senang yesterday.

He said the projects under the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) were slated to start this year.

He, however, cautioned that the flood mitigation projects would not succeed if the state authorities failed to control logging activities which have been identified as one of the reasons for major floods in the state.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said DID would also conduct an in-depth study on flood mitigation at low-lying areas in Kelantan and Terengganu to prevent floods.

“I have also instructed National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to survey losses and damages from the flood in Kelantan and Terengganu which started late last month until early this year,” he said.

- The Star -