KUCHING: Works to upgrade the water output capacity in Bayai at a cost of RM21 million are expected to be completed in May.
This was disclosed during a working visit and follow-up dialogue by Simanggang assemblyman Datuk Francis Harden Hollis with the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) Sri Aman Division at the JBALB office in Sri Aman today (Mar 5).
He was informed that the rural water supply project in the Batu Lintang Undop area was being implemented.
This project with an allocation of RM42 million from the Rural Development Ministry (KPLB) will provide treated water supply to longhouses and villages in the areas of Batu Lintang and Ulu Paku, Undop.
As for the water supply issues in the Menalang and Sungai Tenggak areas, JBALB explained that the condition of the terrain with the upland areas reduced the water pressure which is channelled using the six-inch pipes. As a solution, JBALB will replace the six-inch pipes with two-inch ones.
The project to upgrade the water output capacity from 33.3 MLD to 53.3 MLD at Bayai (Empango) and the rural water supply project in Batu Lintang, Undop are expected to be completed in July.
Meanwhile, the replacement of the pipes around Simanggang is in the construction process and there are several locations which have been converted.
Among the areas that have been completed with the new and replaced connections are Kampung Teratai to Taman Teratai, Jalan Brayun, Market Baru Sri Aman, the new shop lots in Taman Nanang, and at the RPR area.
Feedback was received from Ketua Kampung Jolly Ramli that there has been an increase in water supply although the pressure is still low.
Also present were various ketua masyarakat and ketua kampung (KMKKs) from the Simanggang area, including Pemanca Jegai Jawa, Penghulu Tiong Chong Onn, Kapitan Ling Siew Hung, Penghulu Mingging Sigan, and others.
In his concluding speech, Francis, who is also Assistant Minister of Community Wellbeing, reminded the attending KMKKs who understood JBALB’s short- and long-term plans to explain to the people under their respective jurisdictions that the department’s efforts to supply treated water were continuous.
He hoped all project to resolve water supply issues would be completed soon.
“We thank JBALB for their efforts to supply treated water and in taking action on the people’s complaints regarding water quality, pipe leaks, lack of pressure, and problems with old pipes which are in the process of being replaced,” he said.
