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Sand dredgers for all main riversNST Online » Local News
2008/01/06
Sand dredgers for all main rivers
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PEKAN: Sand dredgers will be placed at all main rivers in the country to deepen the estuaries and avoid floods in future, the deputy prime minister said.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the cabinet had approved the proposal and, to begin with, a floating sand dredger was al-ready operating in Tanjung Agas at the Sungai Pahang river-mouth.
He said the dredger in Tanjung Agas was mounted with six excavators and its main purpose was to clear the sand bars which had slowed the flow of water.
"All the dredgers will be placed permanently at the rivers and will be operating throughout the year," he said at a high-tea for flood workers and volunteers here yesterday.
Najib said the companies operating the sand dredgers would cover their costs from the sale of sand and a government allocation.
He said the company from Terengganu, which took the sand dredging job in Sungai Pahang, had also proposed the construction of a retention pond to help mitigate floods along Sungai Pahang.
"This is our immediate action in response to the recent floods," he said.
Najib, who is the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee chairman, said the committee would decide on the quantum and type of aid to be given to flood victims at its meeting on Friday.
He also asked the local authorities to identify relocation areas for residents who lived in flood-prone villages.
At the function, Najib received cash aid from Felda (RM250,000), Amanah Raya Berhad (RM100,000) and Yayasan Pelajaran Mara (RM50,000).
He also received school uniforms worth RM50,000 from Umno headquarters and the same items worth RM21,000 from SP Setia Foundation.
Earlier, at Institut Kemahiran Mara, Najib presented a bicycle, gift and RM200 each to more than 400 students who had done well in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah.
The contributions were from Putera Umno and Yayasan Pahang.
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