Dr Sim (second left) is briefed during his visit to the Phase 2 Flood Mitigation Project site at Taman Desa Wira, Batu Kawa.

KUCHING (Aug 2): The Phase 2 Flood Mitigation Project at Taman Desa Wira, Batu Kawa is progressing ahead of schedule, with works currently 11 per cent ahead of the planned timeline, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

The Batu Kawah assemblyman said the RM36.6 million project began in January this year and is scheduled for completion in July 2027.

“This project involves the construction of a detention pond, pump house, main switch room, substation, road upgrading works, the upgrading of 363 metres of drainage, and a one-kilometre flood protection wall,” he said following an inspection of the project site with officers from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak.

He stressed that the contractors must continue to strictly comply with contractual requirements to ensure the project is completed on schedule while maintaining the highest standards of workmanship.

Dr Sim, who is Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, said the project’s 11,300-square-metre detention pond will have a storage capacity of 30,000 cubic metres of stormwater.

“It is one of four detention ponds planned under the comprehensive flood mitigation initiative for the Batu Kawah constituency,” he said.

He said Phase 1 of the Flood Mitigation Project at Lorong Desa Wira 7, had earlier been completed at a cost of RM14.5 million, featuring a 1.4-hectare detention pond capable of storing more than 40,000 cubic metres of rainwater.

“The facility temporarily retains excess stormwater during heavy rainfall when the existing drainage system reaches its capacity, reducing flood risks in the surrounding area.

“Together, both phases of the Taman Desa Wira Flood Mitigation Project represent a total investment of more than RM51.1 million,” he said.

Dr Sim added that the Sarawak government has also allocated RM63.88 million for the construction of two additional detention ponds on land in front of Batu Kawa New Township and near Pine Square Commercial Centre, together with drainage upgrading works.

He said the additional infrastructure would significantly improve drainage capacity and strengthen flood resilience in the area upon completion.

“The Phase 2 Flood Mitigation Project at Taman Desa Wira complements the federal government’s RM2.4 billion Sarawak River flood diversion canal project, which involves the construction of an 8km canal, bridges and barrages.

“This will divert up to 60 per cent of excess water from Sungai Sarawak through an eight-kilometre canal linking Batu Kawa to Sungai Salak before discharging into the South China Sea,” he said.

He credited Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, who is also Petra Jaya MP, for securing the federal allocation for the project.

Under the integrated flood management system, Dr Sim said stormwater from residential areas in Desa Wira will be channelled into the detention pond before flowing into Sungai Maong and eventually Sarawak River, thus improving the overall effectiveness of flood mitigation measures.

He added that while flood mitigation is a shared responsibility between the federal and Sarawak governments, his priority since 2016 has been to ensure residents benefit from such projects regardless of the source of funding.