The Penang government is spending RM750,000 on two flood mitigation projects near Solok Van Praagh in Jelutong.
Penang flood mitigation committee chairman Sdr Zairil Khir Johari said residents staying in the area had been hit by flash floods seven times since December last year.
Sdr Zairil said the first project costing RM350,909 would involve widening the Jelutong River from 0.9m to 5m.
“A 200m excavation work is being carried out at the river.
“An online (retention) pond with a 1316.1sq m capacity and a 1m tall flood wall will be built along the river.
“The project which began on Aug 26 is scheduled for completion by Nov 26 this year, ” he said during a river site inspection on Thursday.
As for the second project costing RM400,000, Zairil said a retention pond would be built to store water in Solok Van Praagh.
He said the pond would also function as a recreational park.
A tidal valve and a box culvert would be installed in Jelutong River when the project begins on Dec 1 this year.
“The 1,000 cubic metres retention pond will be built using a dry pond concept.
“The project is expected to be completed within six months.
“We hope these projects will mitigate the flood problems, especially for the 90 housing units nearby, ” he said.
Full article on The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/09/03/move-to-solve-flash-floods