check on drains and gutters regularly to avoid clogging up and causing flooding

Thursday November 10, 2011

Eye on drains and gutters

PENANG has given out instructions for all drains and gutters to be checked regularly to ensure they are not clogged, said state Flood Mitigation Committee chair­­­­man Law Choo Kiang.

He said the instructions were given in a state executive council meeting on Tuesday to the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department and the Seberang Prai and Penang Municipal Councils.

"They are to tell their district engineers and officers to conduct regular checks on all drains and gutters," he said.

He also said the second phase of dredging works to deepen Sungai Gelugor started on Tuesday.

"We are undertaking dredging works to deepen the river to prevent floods from happening during this monsoon season.

"The first phase of the dredging works was conducted in June, and we started the second phase on Tuesday," said Law during a site visit to check out the dredging works yesterday.

Drainage and Irrigation Department northeast district engineer Hasan Abdul Majid said flash floods had occurred in the area as a result of the monsoon rains but they were at a very minimal level.

"It's only about six inches deep and usually recedes within the hour," said Hasan.

Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan who was also present during the site visit advised the public not to throw rubbish into the river

"The river gets choked up with rubbish which is also another reason that contributes to the floods," he said.

Law also encouraged the public to visit infobanjir.water.gov.my to get real time updates on river levels and rainfall data in the state.