Floods in Negeri Sembilan on Nov 4 due to unusual heavy rain - Parliament told

KUALA LUMPUR: Unusual heavy rain, with rain fall of 155 millimetres within four hours recorded at the Sungai Linggi Station, is among factors contributing to the floods in several areas in Negeri Sembilan last Nov 4.

Minister of Environment and Water, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said it was also caused by clogged drains which hampered the smooth flow of water into the monsoon drain.

“The floods occurred also because water from Sungai Linggi, with a reading of 36.94 metres, which exceeded the danger level of 35.3 metres, spilled its banks and overflowed into the surrounding area.

“Water that overflowed from the drainage system could not flow smoothly into Sungai Linggi due to the high level of the river, " he said in a written reply to Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) during the Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Cha wanted to know what caused the flash floods in Seremban in the early morning of Nov 4, which affected more than 1,000 houses and plans by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to prevent a similar incident.

Tuan Ibrahim said to overcome the flood problem, the ministry and (DID) have implemented the Phase 4 Sungai Linggi Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) in Negeri Sembilan, involving an allocation of RM70 million.

”The physical progress at site of the project is 50 per cent and it is expected to be completed by March 2022,” he said, adding that the ministry has also applied for a new project under the 12th Malaysia Plan for Phase 5 of the project, which will start from Hilir Sungai Linggi in Kampung Nyatoh to Pekan Mambau, in Seremban district, `stretching about 12 kilometres.

He said the ministry would also work with the local government authorities to ensure the drainage system and drains are well maintained to facilitate the smooth flow of water during heavy rain.

-- BERNAMA