A RM2.7 million flood mitigation project in Taman Sejahtera, Bukit Mertajam, has resolved chronic flooding that affected 500 residents for over a decade.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A RM2.7 million flood mitigation project has finally resolved chronic flash flooding that plagued about 500 residents of Taman Sejahtera for 13 years.
State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the area was a known hotspot, suffering up to nine flood incidents annually with water levels reaching 300mm.
The Seberang Perai City Council applied for state funding, which was approved in May 2022 and fully financed through the state government’s Drainage Contribution Fund.
Physical work began in April 2023 and, despite five schedule adjustments due to technical issues, was fully completed on September 25 last year.
The project’s main scope involved comprehensive engineering to ensure the drainage system could handle rainfall intensities of 65mm per hour.
This included upgrading the drainage system using U-drains and box culverts along several roads in the housing estate.
The works also involved upgrading an existing 959-square-metre retention pond and constructing a new 666.6-square-metre pond.
Nearly 500 house entrance floors were raised, roads were resurfaced, and utility relocation was carried out.
Machang Bubok state assemblyman Lee Khai Loon said the project significantly impacted the well-being of residents in 100 housing units.
“Taman Sejahtera is a housing estate that is more than 30 years old, and the existing drainage system can no longer cope with heavy rain,” he said.
He added that after the project’s implementation, the flood risk has been visibly reduced.
