Floods: Build dams and more reservoirs in Kelantan

SHAH ALAM - The construction of more reservoirs and dams are the two best methods to overcome the flood problem in Kelantan.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai, Centre for Environmental Conservation and Water Security Senior Fellow, Professor Dr Zulkifli Yusop said, the move is a basic solution that should be implemented.

Zulkifli said the Kelantan government should consider these solutions and methods as part of a long-term plan.

"First and foremost these are nature-based solutions for floods such as building reservoirs to restore water in affected areas.

"In addition to deepening the river and making it mandatory for developers and farmers to build reservoirs to accommodate the excess flood water.

"In Kelantan it is recognised that there is no dam with a large capacity to deal with flood water. The design is not for floods, so the volume to hold flood water is very little compared to the Kenyir Dam," he explained.

He said this when he was a panelist on the Di Sebalik Isu Bersama FY program conducted by Finaz Yunus, broadcasted live on Sinar Harian's digital platform on Friday.

The program discussed the topic titled 'Kelantan Banjir Setiap Tahun, Apa Kata Pas?' also featuring Tumpat MP, Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi as a panelist.

Zulkifli went on to explain that the use of land and relatively vigorous development were also the main causes of floods.

"In addition to the high volume of water, the floods become dangerous with foreign deposits, silt, debris and so on.

"That is why the current flood is not only in terms of rising water levels, but we will get floods filled with debris such as wood and plaster ," he said.