THE flood situation refers. In the 10th Malaysia Plan, RM5 billion was allocated for flood control programmes. Based on the Budget 2015 breakdown, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) was to carry out projects worth RM4.6 billion for flood mitigation from 2011 to 2015, but only RM2.5 billion has been allocated so far. The federal government had allocated RM1.7 billion and RM3.9 billion for flood mitigation programmes under the 8th and 9th plans respectively.
What is the status of these projects?
Land comes under the purview of state governments. Clearing natural forests and replanting with crops does not make an area "green" and "natural". Destruction of forest cover destroys nature's ability to "delay" flow of surface water. Therefore, green coloured crops will not guarantee natural flood mitigation. Once a forest is destroyed, it's gone.
Every flood control solution must "mimic" nature. Water flows from higher to lower elevation. It forms swamps and lakes on its journey to the sea. The water moves based on its own momentum.
Construction of flood mitigation infrastructure is vital and it is important to maintain the infrastructure.
However, if forests continue to be cleared, no matter how much we spend, we will not be able to minimise the flood problem. This is mainly because the large amount of water will be able to overcome the infrastructures built to contain floods. - Sundaily
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