Post-Flood: Negeri Sembilan JPS Focuses On River Deepening Project

SEREMBAN: The major floods that occurred in mid-December last year and early this year in several districts caused damage and destruction with total losses reaching RM20 million, involving the Negeri Sembilan Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS).

State DPS Director, Ir. Saari Abdullah said the damage involved many rain stations and hydrology stations as well as structures belonging to the department.

“The post-flood phase, we have some short-term and long-term strategies, but right now we will implement quick-win (short-term) projects. Now things are being done briskly, for example we are re-deepening the river and repairing damaged structures.

“The estimated damage caused by the flood was approximately RM20 million and recently, the Federal Government has also approved an allocation of RM14 million for the post-flood work which is currently underway, to call for quotations and tenders,” he said.

He said this in a press conference at the Open Day Ceremony of the State Flood Forecasting and Warning Center, JPS Negeri Sembilan in Sikamat here today.

The ceremony was officiated by the Menteri Besar who is also a Member of the Sikamat State Legislative Assembly, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

In the meantime, according to Saari, his side hopes that the river deepening works currently being carried out by his side can be completed before the next monsoon season.

“For this quick-win work, we expect it to be ready by the next monsoon season. Our current focus is on deepening the river.

“After the recent floods, most of the sediments were carried away causing our river to become shallow. So the focus is to deepen the river for all sections of the river so that it can hold rainwater,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin said that through the 12th Malaysia Plan, the Federal Government provided an allocation of RM7.2 million to develop the Phase 2 Early Flood Forecasting Program in Negeri Sembilan.

“Informed that 106 stations will be developed with 41 new stations built which are expected to be able to provide early flood forecasts and warnings. If now we can predict within two days in advance, this program is expected to be able to predict up to a week in advance.

“Therefore it will give exposure to residents potentially affected by the flood to move before the flood. In addition, it gives space to the rescue agencies to strategize the operation of evacuation of the population in an efficient and orderly manner,” he said.