More than RM43 mln allocated to build, upgrade rural infrastructure in Johor this year

ISKANDAR PUTERI: More than RM43 million has been allocated to build, upgrade and repair plantation roads and infrastructure in rural areas in Johor throughout this year, the Johor State Legislative Assembly was told today.

State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said that of the amount, RM31.45 million was provided by the Johor Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), while RM12.18 million by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KPLB).

Zahari (BN-Buloh Kasap) said the initiative not only brought benefits to local residents but also helped make efficient the daily affairs of plantation operators, breeders and farmers.

"Plantation operators will be given assistance in the development of their plantations like irrigation, drainage and sewage systems, construction of bridges, roads, preparation of fences, construction of compost sheds as well as the construction of input material storage structures.

"For the construction of estate roads on a piece of land being developed, the incentive given depends on the land area involved which is based on the incentive ratio which is a maximum of RM20,000 per hectare," he said in replying to an oral question from Ng Kor Sim (PH - Jementah) at the assembly's sitting at the Sultan Ismail Building, Kota Iskandar here.

He said through the allocation, Johor DID has implemented 242 projects which include nine plantation road by-passes, drainage infrastructure projects, agriculture irrigation and agro-based (16 projects) and rural road maintenance projects under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) ( 217 projects).

"Meanwhile, for the allocation under the KPLB, a total of 188 Rural Link Roads (JPD) throughout the state were built totalling 517.44 kilometres.

"Muar is the district with the highest number of projects with 51 projects worth RM3.43 million, followed by Batu Pahat (38 projects, RM2.29 million); Tangkak (29 projects, RM1 million); Segamat (27 projects, RM2.4 million) and Pontian (17 projects, RM570,000)," he said.

Besides that, a total of RM1.25 million was spent to implement 14 irrigation systems or river maintenance projects state-wide for the purpose of agriculture work, he said.

Zahari added that the state government encourages entrepreneurs to start their projects first to see their commitment to carrying out agricultural projects before being given the relevant incentives.

-- BERNAMA