RM50 mln approved for 8 rural water supply projects
SIBU: A total of RM50 million has been approved this year, out of the RM161 million needed for the implementation of Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas) programme, which will benefit 572 households.
According to Minister of Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, the amount ( RM50 million) would be used to finance eight rural water supply projects.
“The total cost for the eight projects is RM70.9 million but the balance of RM20.9 million will be requested next year. The projects are expected to start middle of this year,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Dr Rundi disclosed this when asked how soon the implementation of Sawas programme to benefit 1,400 households in the state this year, costing RM161 million, would start.
He said Sawas programme was an alternative water supply system for the remote communities without road access or not feasible for extension from the existing water supply authorities.
Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman said: “The total number of projects for the 1,400 households ( RM161 million) is 67 projects. With the approved eight projects this year, we may need another two years to implement the whole project, subject to fund availability.”
He said the 1,400 households comprise villages and longhouses in the state’s rural areas.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when tabling Budget 2017 last year, said that a water supply fund would be established immediately with an allocation of RM500 million to address water supply issues nationwide, but did not specify the allocation for Sarawak.
On this, Dr Rundi said: “To- date, the state has not been advised on the distribution of the allocation as announced.”
About 114,000 households in Sarawak do not enjoy treated water supply, which represents 19.5 per cent of the state population, or 39 per cent of the rural population.
Dr Rundi has mentioned that the quest to achieve 100 per cent of households enjoying this basic amenity by 2025 was estimated to cost RM10 billion.