JBALB given 18 months to lay new water mains to Sebuyau
SADONG JAYA: The Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) has been given a timeframe of 18 months to lay a new main water pipeline from Kota Samarahan to Sebuyau.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this will be a short term approach to solve the water issues affecting the areas in Asajaya, Sadong Jaya and Sebangan.
“This water problem is due to the leakage of underground pipes that are over 40 years old and a new approach needed to be taken so that it will not recur in the future. The new pipeline will be built immediately.
“I have allocated RM150 million from the state funds to solve this perennial issue,” Abang Johari told reporters after a briefing with JBALB at Sekolah Pesantren Abdul Taib Mahmud here yesterday.
He proposed that the new water mains be built above ground (elevated) and adjacent to the main road and along bridges to Sebuyau to make it easy for JBALB officers to detect any cracks or faulty sections of the pipeline.
“This project will be carried out in packages and run concurrently to hasten its completion,” said Abang Johari, adding that a committee will also be formed to oversee the running of the project.
It was learnt that the water to these areas are supplied from the Batu Kitang water treatment plant.
Abang Johari emphasised that the state government would be using its own funds to solve the water issues in the state by building all the necessary infrastructure and pipelines.
Speaking at a separate event held at Kampung Tanjung Kelaso, the Chief Minister revealed that the state government was planning to build a new water grid system as a long term solution to solve the state’s water woes.
“We are aiming to make the water grid in Sarawak to be rather similar to our electricity grid. From there, the water can be pumped from Bakun, Murum and Gedong and distributed effectively throughout the state,” said Abang Johari, who also handed water tanks to the villagers as a temporary solution to their water woes.
This water problem is due to the leakage of underground pipes that are over 40 years old and a new approach needed to be taken so that it will not recur in the future. The new pipeline will be built immediately. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
Meanwhile, earlier at the briefing, JBALB state director Chang Kuet Shian informed that the interruption of water supply at the Asajaya and Sadong Jaya area was due to leaks at the main pipes.
The first leak, he said, was discovered on May 26 this year, and was rectified on May 27.
He added that the department discovered two other leaks along the same pipeline on May 28 and 29.“To resolve this issue, we decided to build two by-pass pipes at the main pipeline as a short term solution,” said Chang.
He expected both pipelines for the by-pass to be completed yesterday and the water pressure in both areas to normalise before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration this Friday.
Among those present were Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister of E- Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo, Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris and Deputy State Secretary Datu Abu Bakar Marzuki.