SETIU: The government has allocated RM1.6bil to address the issue of shallow river mouths throughout the country, due to bustling economic activities, from 2002 to 2021.

       Minister of Environment and Water, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) said that the heavy economic activities around river estuaries often posed challenges such as soil sedimentations, floods and difficulties in navigation by boats.

       "We also hear the sighs of fishermen who experience difficulties in going out to sea because estuaries are shallow due to sand deposits.

       "Some of them suffer losses of property and even lives due to mishaps (in the estuaries)," he said at the launching of the Sungai Setiu Estuary Conservation Project here, on Friday (Feb 25).

       As such, he said the ministry through the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) was committed to overcome serious soil sedimentations at estuaries.

       Tuan Ibrahim said that Malaysia especially in Terengganu had a long coastline and numerous large estuaries.

       "The problem of sedimentations occur nationwide, but Terengganu received the highest allocation at RM1.16bil (from RM1.6bil) because there are 14 river estuaries in the state compared to other states which have three or four," he said.

       He said that under the 11th Malaysia Plan, RM343mil had been approved for Terengganu to implement three new projects under the River Mouth Conservation Programme.

       "The Sungai Setiu Estuary Conservation Project is one of the new projects with a total ceiling allocation of RM150mil.

       "The construction work started in January 2022 and is expected to be completed in three years," he said.

       Of the total of RM150mil, he said RM116mil went into the construction of a wave breaker, training wall structure, beach rehabilitation as well as the excavation of a 14-kilometre navigation channel from Kampung Gong Batu to the Malaysia Fisheries Development Board jetty in Kampung Penarik, near here.

       "All allocations and the projects approved symbolise the concern of the federal government to improve the quality of life of the people of Terengganu," he added. - Bernama