ALOR SETAR: The government is building a Bailey bridge as a temporary solution for Kampung Setol in Yan, after a 10m bridge at the village collapsed during the Aug 18 flash flood.
Jerai member of Parliament Sabri Azit said the construction of the bridge would be funded by existing allocation under the Rural Development Ministry, pending the disbursement of an allocation by the Federal government to build a new concrete bridge.
"I am made to understand by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed that the RM75 million allocation is in the process of being disbursed to the ministry by this week.
"Part of the allocation is meant for the construction of a new bridge at the village (Kampung Setol) and also for the construction of a sabo dam at the Gunung Jerai foothill near the village to manage the river flow from the uphill (areas)," he said when contacted.
Sabri said works to build the Bailey bridge would begin by next week.
During his work visit to the Yan district on Aug 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced a RM78 million allocation to repair and replace infrastructures and facilities in Yan and Kuala Muda districts that were damaged in the flash flood on Aug 18, triggered by water surge phenomenon at Gunung Jerai uphill.
Sabri said he understood the villagers' predicament and he had made a request during the Dewan Rakyat sitting for the allocation to be disbursed as soon as possible.
"I am aware of the villagers' plea for the construction of a new bridge to be expedited as the bridge which links Kampung Setol and Kampung Pauh is crucial for them," he said.
It was reported earlier that more than 500 affected villagers had appealed for the government to expedite the construction of a new bridge in Kampung Setol.