Saifuddin visiting the project site near Sungai Anak Bukit. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
THE flood mitigation project (RTB) at Sungai Kedah/Sungai Anak Bukit to address flooding in Alor Setar and Jitra in Kedah is expected to be completed by Sept 9.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that progress had been delayed due to various factors.
“The delay will not hamper the project as it is already 78.13% completed,” Saifuddin, who is also Kedah Development Action Council chairman, said during a press conference at the site.
He said the project aimed to create new channels to address overflow from three main rivers – Sungai Baru, Sungai Tanjung Pauh and Sungai Anak Bukit.
These rivers traverse through housing estates, villages and industrial zones.
The major works still in progress involve the construction of two bridges on Jalan Alor Setar-Kangar and Jalan Gunung Keriang.
Drainage and piping works to be completed at later stages of the project.
Saifuddin said the project was expected to safeguard 9,000ha of padi fields from being submerged as in previous floods.
Earlier he spent about an hour checking the progress of the project.
He was accompanied by Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department deputy director- general Raja Muhammad Azhan Shah Raja Muhammad.
Saifuddin assured Kedahans that the Federal Government would not sideline the state although it is under different leadership.
“We will not sacrifice the welfare of the people.
“Let the data speak for itself. The Federal Government has put a lot of funds into the development of Kedah,” Saifuddin added.
