KUCHING: The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) is making preparations to face the yearly flood problems in low-lying areas under its jurisdiction.
Its chairman Lo Khere Chiang said the yearly occurrence of floods in low-lying areas has MPP on alert, especially during this coming rainy season.
“As far as MPP is concerned, we are already putting up our Emergency Team on standby. However, we are constrained by the lack of equipment and manpower at our disposal as we only have a few trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles.
“Any major incidents during the rainy season will have to be referred to the Civil Defence Department (JPAM), who are entrusted to manage disasters in the state. They have the overall control because they have the relevant equipment and facilities.
“The Resident and District Offices will also assist within their respective division and district,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
Lo believed that the state government’s intervention is needed in order to overcome flood problems in the long run.
“Over the years, there have been rapid developments in the city. New developments build up their lands, causing old developments to be on lower lands and prone to flooding.
“We cannot expect developers to build all the major drains as it will be very costly. Therefore, in the process of approving new development, the state government must provide for major drainage system or sewerage system. Likewise, there must be provision for major roads before developers can build side roads.
“This is where the state government should look into together with other relevant agencies like Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and local councils so that we can have a solution to our yearly flood problems,” he said.
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