Penang govt in midst of planning flood mitigation masterplan

The Penang Government is in the midst of planning the flood mitigation masterplan for the five districts to solve flooding problems in the state. State local government, traffic management and flood mitigation committee chairman, Chow Kon Yeow said the plan for the southwest district was completed while for south Seberang Perai, approval was obtained to begin the study. He said for central Seberang Perai, the plan was in progress while for northeast and north Seberang Perai, the plan were likely start before the year ended, taking between a year and 18 months to complete. Chow said flood mitigation projects carried out by developers, local councils and the department of irrigation and drainage needed to follow the guidelines given in the state and district masterplan. Speaking to reporters here Monday, he said funding was the challenge to start projects in the masterplan, adding that some RM800 million was needed to implement the southwest district flood mitigation masterplan. Therefore, he said the state government was considering private financial incentives (PFI), similar to the Penang Transport Masterplan. "How to get the funding? The only solution is how PFI can be invited? If we say land swap or reclamation, then people will object, but where to get the money and resources other than looking at land swap and reclamation rights?," he asked. Chow also dismissed allegations that over development was the cause for the flash flood last Friday, adding that development could also be used to overcome flooding. "Development does not mean flooding, it could mean overcoming flooding because the local council ensures new drainage system to be built while the existing system will be upgraded," he said.