KOTA BARU: The Federal Government will give priority to the Lebir dam project in Gua Musang.
It is targeted at tackling the yearly floods and flash floods faced by Kelantan folk, especially those in the interior.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the RM3.5 billion project was one of the topics discussed at the Kelantan State Action Council meeting here today.
He said the Federal Government believed that, besides preventing more flooding, the project could also boost the state’s economy.
“In the meeting, we were also informed that the Kemubu Agriculture Development Authority (Kada) is also facing problems during the rainy and dry seasons.
“We believe that the Lebir dam project, which is aimed at providing water supply to the irrigation system, domestic users and electricity to the people in the state, must be given priority.
“The Federal Government was informed about the state government’s request for the project to be included in the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said after chairing the council’s second meeting this year at the Darulnaim Complex, here, today.
Also discussed were three other water projects in Kelantan — the first phase of the integrated Sungai Kelantan river basin development, and the dams in Nenggiri and Merbau Chondong .
“We focused on these four projects because water resources are important for the people and we also want to ensure the water supply is stable.
“We also do not want the yearly floods to occur in Kelantan,” he said.
On the five pilot development projects announced by him at the council‘s first meeting in March, Azmin said the state government had given its full co-operation for the implementation of all the projects, including land acquisition.
“Several early allocations had been approved for the five projects and we hope the projects, including the extension of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, can start as soon as possible.” He said he hoped that with the appointment of Ahmad as co-chairman for the projects, the approval process could be speeded up at the district and district council levels.