IPOH: The federal government has approved an allocation of RM108.5 million for flood mitigation projects along Sungai Kinta in Ipoh and Kampar.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the allocation aims to prevent a recurrence of flooding in Arena Kepayang Putra near Fair Park.
Nga, who is also a Kepayang assemblyman, said the flooding was caused by the extraordinary heavy rainfall over 13 hours, with a recorded 92.5mm of rainfall at the Ulu Kinta Dam area.
"Initial investigations by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) and the Perak Fire and Rescue Department showed that continuous rainfall in Ipoh since last Saturday caused the water level in Sungai Kinta to rise rapidly.
"The following day, the persistent rain caused the river to overflow into residential areas, affecting about 200 households in Arena Kepayang Putra and Fair Park," he said in a statement today.
Last Sunday, for the first time in history, the residential area of Arena Kepayang Putra experienced flooding as high as 1.5 metres due to the overflow of Sungai Kinta.
Residents were forced to wade through dirty floodwaters filled with trash and oil slicks, with some reportedly experiencing symptoms of skin irritation.
Nga said the allocation would enable upgrades to flood barriers along Sungai Kinta, serving as a preventive and long-term solution to address the growing risks of flooding due to worsening climate change.
"Kinta recorded monthly rainfall of 370.2mm in November, exceeding the average of 298.5 mm," he said.
Yesterday, oily residue mixed with floodwaters at Arena Kepayang Putra, Fair Park, here along with floating debris, is suspected to originate from waste discharged into drainage systems by nearby commercial areas such as eateries and vehicle workshops.
https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2024/12/1142516/ipoh-flood-raises...