THE completion of two pump houses in Taman Iping, Batu Maung on March 26 this year can benefit some 2,000 residents there, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
The RM16.5 million project by the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) makes it the second within the vicinity after the installation of a similar pump house in Taman Iping 1, Jalan Batu Maung previously.
It was learnt that this project falls under the Sungai Nipah flood mitigation project, one of the eight major projects by the Penang government to solve flood issues in the state.
“Out of the eight projects, four have been completed so far, namely the Parit 4, Parit 5, Mak Mandin and Taman Iping flood mitigation projects.
“All the projects are expected to cost RM150 million.
“As for today, I understand that these two pump houses in Taman Iping have a capacity of six and seven cubic metres per second respectively.
“Also, glad to note that this project was designed to have 20 average recurrence interval (ARI) flood protection level, which can benefit some 2,000 residents within the vicinity here.
“The main objective is to reduce the flood risk which covers the residential, commercial and industrial areas over 3.2 square kilometres,” Chow said in his speech during the announcement of the pump houses in Taman Iping, Batu Maung today.
Meanwhile, the remaining four projects, Chow said, are in good progress as of now, which include the Bayan Baru flood mitigation project , which is expected to complete soon.
“Two more projects, the Alma reservoir and Sungai Tiram flood mitigation project are being constructed, and the last one, which is the Permatang Rawa project, is now in the redesigning phase,” he added.
Chow also said there are many other flood mitigation projects under the jurisdiction of both, the Federal and state governments, which are in various stages before completion.
In a related development, he reiterated that the state government and the DID will stay committed to expediting the said projects to ensure the people no longer have to put up with flood issues in the state.
“In short, by 2030, we hope that all the 63 flood hotspots identified will be reduced by 80 per cent through the implementation of the various flood mitigation projects.
“Thank you once again to the DID, contractor and all the relevant parties involved in materialising this project here today,” Chow said.
Meanwhile, state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, who was present during the ceremony, said although the project took some time to complete, the good news is that it is now completed and ready to benefit everyone affected.
The project started on March 16, 2018.
Also present during the ceremony were state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, state Financial Officer Datuk Dr Mohamad Farazi Johari, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, state DID deputy director Ooi Soon Lee, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and southwest district officer Mohd Hafiz Aswad Nadzri.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi