GEORGE TOWN — Penang has spent RM400 million on flood mitigation in the last decade, but it is impossible to completely eradicate floods, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Every flood mitigation facility has a maximum capacity in withholding flood waters according to its engineering design, but floods recur when water exceeds these capacity levels, he explained.
“There is no way you can eradicate flooding completely. But with some (flood mitigation) projects we can minimise the impact.
“I think in the past years, flooding occurrences have been reduced greatly because of the new hundred millions worth of (flood) mitigation projects that we have undertaken since 2010 until now.
“In the past 10 years, we have spent state money (up to) RM400 million. I think that helps improving the (flood) situation (in Penang),” Chow said after an event here, last night.
Chow was asked if the state government had plans for more flood mitigation projects in Seberang Perai besides to major ones currently being developed there on the Penang mainland.
This follows major flash flooding in several parts of the mainland affecting the Seberang Perai district following heavy rain and storms the last weekend.
He said declaring a state emergency is not necessary for Penang as the situation did not meet the level or criteria for such a declaration.
As for last night, there were 590 flood victims evacuated from their homes and placed in temporary relief shelters, according to Bernama.
Kedah and Perlis were also hit by flash floods following continuous downpour since Sunday.
The storms have caused over a hundred cases of uprooted trees that damaged property and vehicles in these states.
These norther states in the peninsula, together with Sabah and west Sabah, are currently under a Category 1 strong winds and rough seas warning by the Meteorological Department that will last until this Saturday. – September 20, 2024