SEREMBAN: State authorities will deepen rivers at 10 locations in Negri Sembilan after several low-lying areas here were hit by flash floods, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

       He said the state executive council decided on this after several areas along Sungai Linggi were inundated on Tuesday night.

       “We have to immediately take steps to deepen the rivers, especially Sungai Linggi, so that we can effectively address flash floods.

       “The state government will work with the private sector and the matter will be finalised next week,” he told reporters here yesterday.

       Several areas including Kampung Singh, Block C, Happy Garden, Kampung Semarak, Kampung Ismail, Jalan Tunku Kurshiah, England Garden and Taman Nyiur Hijau were affected following continuous heavy rain.

       Several other areas in the state such as in Linggi were also hit by flash floods.

       In November 2000, some 400 households and business premises in the Seremban and Rasah areas suffered huge losses after Sungai Linggi broke its banks.

       The state government compensated each owner RM500 at the time.

       In total, some 1,000 premises were affected by floods throughout the state then, including Sungai Rokan in Gemencheh and Dangi in Kuala Pilah.