Penang allocates RM200m for flood mitigation works (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has set aside a huge sum to address the damages caused by the devastating floods which had overwhelmed the state recently.
At a press conference here, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng led his two state executive councillors Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Hock Seng to disclose how the sum will be spent.
Besides asking the federal authorities to improve their allocation for flood mitigation to Penang, Lim also said that Penang has no choice but to devote more resources including money to repair the damage incurred during the floods.
Under the guidance of the state Drainage and Irrigation (DID), the state has allocated up to RM200 million to carry out 31 flood mitigation projects throughout the state.
It includes deepening of the riverbed of all rivers and their tributaries on the island and mainland as well as improving the drainage system.
The projects will be carried out in stages with emphasis based on priority.
Later, Hock Seng also disclosed that the state will allocate RM17 million to rehabilitate 71 locations of hilly terrain where landslips and landslides had occurred during the height of the rain storm which paralyzed 80% of Penang on Nov 4th and 5th.
The state will also seek a further RM8 million from the federal government to mitigate 50 hilly terrain locations which were situated along the federal roads.
"The Public Works Department has been entrusted to carry out the task along the federal area," Hock Seng said.
The state has also channelled RM100,000 to Kelantan of which RM50,000 will be distributed to the state government for flood relief effort while another RM50,000 will be allotted to the civil society here for a similar purpose.
This is in consideration of the current rainy weather which has displaced over 7,000 residents there.
Later, the newly appointed Penang DID director Mohd Azmin Hussin said that the department will now take into account the impact of climate change when devising various engineering measures to combat floods.
Since 2015, the country and especially Penang, has witnessed an unprecedented change in weather intensity where rainfall is now more severe. This, in turn, caused a cascading effect on rivers and other water catchment areas, said Azmin.