Pump houses in Perak must have early warning system for floods

IPOH: All pump houses in Perak will have to be installed with an alarm system to give early warning to residents in the vicinity of any impending flash floods, said state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun.

He said existing pump houses powered by diesel would also have to switch to electricity to make the early warning system more reliable.

"This is important because floods frequently occur at night or in the early morning when people are asleep. With this warning system, the siren will automatically go off when the water level reaches the danger mark, to alert residents to take the necessary action,” he told Bernama when contacted here today.

Mohd Zolkafly, who is in charge of Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Transport, said the unusually heavy rainfall of late had caused flash floods in several districts in Perak, including Larut, Matang and Selama (LMS), Hilir Perak, Kerian and Kinta.

Asked on floods in Kinta district which affected Kampung Seri Kinta, Lahat here, Mohd Zolkafly said the government had asked for a high-powered pumping system to be built next to the existing pump house within six months to reduce the risk of floods.

Mohd Zolkafly said he would also discuss with the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) the possibility of hiring private contractors to excavate sand in Sungai Kinta to complement the river-deepening works of the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

"The excavated sand can be put to good use including for industrial purposes. Deepening the river will help to check floods,” he added.

He said that as at 10 am today, 246 residents in the districts of LMS, Kerian and Hilir Perak were still taking shelter at four flood relief centres.

-- BERNAMA