Johor DID faces a challenge installing water pumps due to the water level of the river

BATU PAHAT: Installing mobile water pumps has been a challenge for the Johor Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) as the river water is still at dangerous levels, particularly in the Batu Pahat district here.

Its director, Azren Khalil, said the department must ensure that the river water does not spill over its banks and that the site is suitable for installing the mobile pump.

As of this morning, he said four of the 14 water stations in Batu Pahat district were still at dangerous levels, namely Bekok Dam, Sungai Simpang Kiri in Seri Medan and Parit Sulong and Sungai Senggarang here.

He added that a total of 15 pumps were installed in Batu Pahat, namely four pumps at Kuala Senggarang Water Gate, Parit Bintang (two), Parit Jambul (two) and one each at Parit Londang, Parit Asam Kumbang, Parit Lapis, Parit Sulong , Sungai Kajang, Parit Separap, Botanical Garden in Seri Medan, some of which were installed in 2011.

“These pumps are used to pump water into the river or sea, but as long as the water level rises above the river banks we will not pump because it defeats the purpose.

He said 31 mobile pumps were also installed in Mersing, Johor Bahru, Tangkak, Muar, Pontian and Kota Tinggi districts to address the flood situation in Johor.

He said the pump, with a capacity of between five and 20 cusec (cubic feet per second), will pump water for four hours and “rest” for an hour to make sure the motor isn’t overloaded.

With the use of this mobile pump, he expects the flood waters in Batu Pahat, Johor, to recede within two weeks to a month.

Azren said the placement of these mobile pumps will have an impact on reducing flood levels in Batu Pahat, especially in low-lying areas.

So far, the flood situation in Batu Pahat has shown a declining trend, although there are still areas that are starting to flood due to the movement of flood waters from upstream areas and the flood level situation is under control compared to when the flood started on Feb. 28 .

At 8:00 am today, the State Disaster Management Committee said the flood toll in Johor recorded a total of 42,638 people, with Batu Pahat recording the highest toll at 39,870 flood victims. -Bernama