PENAMPANG: The flood mitigation plan for the Kibabaig area here is estimated to cost about RM12.95million, the state Drainage and Irrigation (DID) Department’s District Engineer Jeffrey Ng said.
The estimate is part of the RM200 million detailed flood mitigation plan for flood prone areas in Sabah’s west coast that was done by the appointed consultant, Jeffrey briefed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman here yesterday.
According to Ng, of the total estimate of over RM200 million, RM65 million is needed for urgent flood mitigation projects in Penampang, Menggatal and Putatan.
He disclosed that RM12.95 million is needed for the flood mitigation project in Kibabaig here, RM10 million for Rampayan in Menggatal and RM12 million for Kampung Sindil in Putatan.
“The flood mitigation plan for Kibabaig was completed this year by the consultant. We have submitted it to the Drainage and Irrigation Department and are now waiting for the Flood Management Unit to give us the approval to start work.
“We also need the state government’s help to push for federal funding as this is a long overdue project,” he said, adding that once implemented the project will take about two years to complete.
He said RM3 million of the RM12.95 million was for land conversion purposes and the DID need to acquire 11 pieces of land in Kibabaig for the project.
“We will do a by-pass through the Penampang Sport Complex then the water will be discharged in the drain between the Penampang Police station and Fire and Rescue Services Department’s station instead of going to the Moyog River.
“The the study done by the consultant showed that it will be more effective in discharging water,” he said, adding that the project would involve the construction of a 900-metre monsoon drain with culverts placed between the sports complex while the rest will be open drain,” he disclosed.
Once completed, the project will definitely help reduce flooding in Kibabaig and surrounding areas, Jeffrey said.