The state government is mulling an ‘out of the box’ solution to water supply problems in rural and coastal areas.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the idea is to pump water from Batang Ai, Bakun, Baleh and Murum hydro electric power dams to water treatment plants.

“The cabinet has discussed the matter and all the ministers agreed to use the new approach. The cabinet also has agreed to appoint a consultant to do an overall study on this matter,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Abang Johari had earlier officiated at the closing of the Kaul Festival here.

He said there has to be a master plan for the state government to solve water supply problems in coastal and rural areas once and for all. He added the cost for this proposed project has yet to be calculated but it will run into billions of ringgit.

“I know it will need a huge amount but we must have a master plan particularly to get raw water supply to be treated before it is supplied to rural and coastal areas.

“We can take raw water from our rivers but in the long run, the rivers may get polluted by chemicals and plantation activities.

“For example, Sungai Koyan in Belaga. Initially it seem to be okay but now the water has turned yellowish depriving the people in Sungai Asap of clean water although the supply is treated. So we have to look for alternatives. We have many dams and we can use the water from there where the raw water supply is fresh and closely monitored,” he said.

This also means the government will have to build a statewide piping grid, he said.

Abang Johari said it is better to do this now than later although it will cost a lot of money.

“We have new technology. If we don’t do this now, water problems will not be resolved from year to year, from election to election.  It should be done by the federal government but the people cannot wait. I will find the best formula for the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) to finance it. We can recover the loan in 30 to 35 years. The Prime Minister has agreed for us to set up DBOS which will be done in six months,” he said.

Also present were his wife Datin Amar Datuk Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Urbanisation Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Mukah MP Dato Sri Muhammad Leo Toyad, Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi, Telian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo and Jemoreng assemblyman Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Conny Banji

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