Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) has allocated about RM1 million to develop a mini recreational park at the former site of the Satok wet and jungle produce market here, Kuching North mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said today.

He said the allocation would cover the cost of demolishing the existing market building and to redevelop the area into a park that will give the Satok Road area a greener identity.

"We will ensure community engagement in this project and we call on all residents in this area to support it," he told reporters while inspecting the work to demolish the market building which began today.

He said the mini park would be part of DBKU's efforts to improve the environment in Satok that would also include the restoration of Sungai Bintangor, a small stream that flows through the area.

Under the redevelopment plan, about 1,000 petty traders who have been occupying the market building that had existed for the last 20 years have been relocated to a new site named Medan Niaga Satok across the Sarawak River effective today.

On the relocation exercise, Abang Abdul Wahap said the DBKU enforcement unit, with the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies, would monitor the process to ensure that it was carried out smoothly.

"So far, the process has been going on very well and I hope all those involved will continue to render their cooperation until everything has been done," he added.