River Board ready to curb flooding in the city
By Wilfred Pilo, ET, 8/12/2007

KUCHING: The Sarawak River Board (SRB) is preparing for any eventuality in the event of heavy rain which may cause flooding around Kuching City and its surrounding areas.This was stated by the chairman of SRB, Dr Stephen Rundi Anak Utom, at a press conference here yesterday.Rundi said that SRB had drawn up strategies for efficient operation of the barrage in order to mitigate and minimise the effect of flooding if heavy downpour occurred. The barrage is to mitigate flood and it cannot prevent flooding from taking place.In mitigating flood, the barrage and ship-lock gates will be kept closed, preventing sea water flowing inwards and causing the water level to rise.

Effective December 2007, if there is no earlier deterioration of weather condition, the water level upstream of the barrage will be maintained at +7.5 metres and will be further reduced to the lowest water level tide permissible if it rains heavily. This exercise is to create sufficient reservoir in the lower Sungai Sarawak to hold incoming water from the catchment before flushing out during down (ebb) tide.

Rundi said that 18 units of telemetry stations equipped with “early flood warning system” had been tested in November and found to be functioning well. The public is reminded that the system only gives warning if Sungai Sarawak is flooded and not “flash flood” due to heavy downpour. The “early flood warning system” works in such a way that when the water level at that specific area reaches a certain level it will trigger an alarm to the Barrage control room. When this happens, the set protocol will take effect.

The Controller of SRB will be informed. He will then inform the Resident of Kuching of the warning area and both will consult the Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan, whether to activate the alarm or not. If the alarm is activated, the residents of that area will be required to evacuate to higher ground in an orderly manner.

Instructions had been issued to officers of SRB in all stations to carry out safety equipment checks on passenger vessels.In reply to a question on the number of SRB staff to be deployed in the event of flood, he said that 230 members were on standby and enforcement officers from other agencies would give them assistance.