PEKAN: The task force set up to review all existing government projects to see if they caused flooding will start its work by next week.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid said the task force, made up of representatives from government agencies, state and local authorities, hoped to complete a report by March.
“We hope to start work immediately and submit a proposal to the Cabinet for deliberation in time for the mid-term review of the 9MP,” he told reporters after a briefing on the flood situation at the district land office here yesterday.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the formation of the task force, headed by Azmi, to look into the projects, particularly those listed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
The committee is entrusted with carrying out a thorough review of all existing development projects to overcome the perennial problem of flooding.
Azmi said the task force would be concentrating on on-going projects and those yet to be implemented to ascertain if any modifications are required.
If there was a need, he said, the committee would propose an increase in allocation to rectify shortcomings in projects deemed to be “problematic.”
Projects which had been completed would also be reviewed although little could be done now, he added.
He said future projects such as roads and buildings must not be situated at areas which could block the flow of water.
“Existing projects at flood-prone areas should be reviewed by the local authorities,” he said.
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