BALING: The project to relocate an additional 17 families in Kampung Iboi affected by debris floods that ravaged the village two years ago, is expected to be completed by next March.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the project, built on 12ha land in Kampung Bok Bak here, has reached 26 per cent progress.
"The phase two relocation project started in March this year and to date, it has reached 26 per cent, which is one per cent ahead of schedule.
"It is expected to be completed by next March, and we will proceed to relocate 17 families whose houses are located in a risky zone along Sungai Kupang," he told reporters after visiting the project site today.
Sanusi said the state government had allocated RM600,000 to acquire the land while the federal government funded RM2.9 million to build the houses.
In June 2023, 12 families from Kampung Iboi whose houses suffered total loss and partially damaged were relocated to a new housing scheme built in Desa Keda Sadek, about 7 kilometres from Kampung Iboi.
Meanwhile, Sanusi said the clean-up works along the 5km stretch of Sungai Kupang riverbank in Kampung Iboi has started.
"We are here today to inspect the works as we anticipate heavier rainfall as we have entered the monsoon transition period between Sept 24 and November.
"The cleaning-up is meant to ensure smooth river flow along the 5km stretch of Sungai Kupang to prevent flash floods in Kampung Iboi and adjacent villages during the anticipated rainy season," he said.
Sanusi said a tender for the construction of a permanent bridge to replace the temporary Bailey bridge is expected to be opened by next January, followed by the project awarding process by next May.
The project is funded by the federal government through the Public Works Department.
The Bailey bridge was built as a temporary bridge linking Kampung Iboi and Kampung Masjid Iboi after the old bridge collapsed during the July 4 debris floods that ravaged dozens of villages in Kupang sub-district, killing four victims in Kampung Iboi, the epicentre of the disaster.
In a related development, Sanusi said the construction of a sabo dam project in Sungai Kupang is currently in the design stage, with the physical construction works to begin next year.
The federal government has approved an allocation of RM22.8 million to build a sabo dam to prevent future debris floods in Sungai Kupang.