Sada aims to supply piped water statewide by 2020

ALOR SETAR: While logging may have stopped in the Ulu Muda catchment area, indiscriminate logging is still going on in other parts of Kedah.

This has created a major pollution issue where mud and sludge are contaminating rivers which are sources of water for a large number of villagers.

The contamination of a river near Bukit Enggang, Sik, due to the logging of 500ha of forest reserve in December last year has affected more than 500 people in the area, said Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (Sada), the state water corporation that provides treated water to 80% of the entire 2.072 million population in Kedah.

“There are many who do not use Sada’s water supply as the water from streams and rivers are free, but they do not know the conse- quences of consuming the muddy water caused by logging in many areas. We are aware of river pollution and Sada is upgrading its infrastructure to provide water for all, but this will take some time.

“Sada is targeting for total water supply to all by 2020, which is still a tall order, taking into consideration the millions needed to be spent on upgrading work,” said a spokesman.

He said the upgrading of water treatment plants in Pelubang, Bukit Selambau, Sungai Limau, Lubuk Buntar Lama and Jenun Baru at a cost of about RM1bil could ensure sufficient treated water to the population until 2040.

State Environment, Science and Technology Committee chairman Simon Ooi said the water pollution could continue for some time as the Kedah government presently was in no position to compensate the concessionaires that were given licences to log by the Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) of the previous government.

“There would certainly be compensation if we were to revoke the concessions,” he said.

Ooi added that logging had stopped at several places since the new government came to power, but he also alleged that some concessionaires did not follow the rules.