Project to tackle flash floods in Changkat Minden completed

ANOTHER project to reduce flash flood risk has been completed in less than five months, specifically at Changkat Minden Jalan 3 in Bukit Gelugor.

State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the project was carried out swiftly after Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan raised the matter at the State Legislative Assembly recently.

“The main objective of this project is to reduce flash floods that often occur during prolonged heavy rain around this area.

“The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) did a technical report to overcome flash floods at Jalan Minden 3, 6 and 7, Minden Heights, Gelugor, Penang.

“It included surveying works before and after the project, replacement of 360 metre drainage sized 1.5m x 0.9m, construction and installation of capping beam, safety fences, road shoulders’ imprint concrete type road shoulders, road level raising, building entrance walls to each residence and installation of scupper drains,” said Zairil.

He also congratulated the Public Works Department (JKR) (North East District) as the implementing agency for completing this project in a short time.

He added that RM725,995.10 was spent on this project which was carried out under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) grant.

Zairil Khir Johari (right), Sim Tze Zin & Kumaresan

According to Kumaresan, the project is expected to resolve or reduce the flooding problems that have plagued the area over the past 30 years.

“When flash floods occurred, the water level could reach until waist level. They flowed from (hilly area) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Therefore, with this project, the water will be discharged into Sungai Gelugor.

“I have come here when it rained heavily. I am now glad that there is no flood, thanks to JKR and JPS’s good engineering,” he said.

Story by Alia Siti Khadijah Azhar
Pix by Nur Ashikin Ismail & Alia Siti Khadijah Azhar