110 ‘sick’ RES projects due to incompetency – Awg Tengah
SERIAN: Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan yesterday revealed 110 Rural Electrification Scheme ( RES) projects in the state are delayed.
A state committee found incompetency of private contractors directly appointed by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development ( KKLW) a cause of these delays.
“KKLW has allocated a total of RM2.5 billion to carry out RES projects in the state.
“To date, only 90 per cent of these RES projects have been completed,” he said when launching a RES project at Kampung Danau Krangas in Melikin yesterday.
He added his ministry had written to alert KKLW and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of this concern.
Awang Tengah also appealed to landowners to be supportive of the laying of HT/ LT lines, transformers, voltage regulators, undeground cable lines and Sesco meters over their land.
“These are among the stumbling blocks for the implementation of RES projects.”
On a related matter, Awang Tengah said the huge allocation for RES projects in the state was mostly due to the good relationship between Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and the federal government.
Of the RM2.5 billion allocation given by the federal government, RM500 million were set aside to build mini hydro electric projects or solar hybrids in remote areas.
Meanwhile, from 2009 till last year, Balai Ringin has been
KKLW has allocated a total of RM2.5 billion to carry out RES projects in the state. To date, only 90 per cent of these RES projects have been completed.
allocated RM112.5 million for RES. This is the biggest allocation for RES in a single area in the state, he pointed out.
Awang Tengah assured that his ministry would request Sesco to install street lamps along the road leading to the village as brought up the village’s headman, Luang Penguang, in his welcoming speech.
Luang had also urged the government to built a better road to the village.
To that, Awang Tengah said he would bring the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and Communications.
He also hope water woes in Balai Ringin would end under Phase II of the Serian Regional Water Supply Project, which has been allocated RM10 million.
At the event, Awang Tengah allocated RM100,000 to upgrade the village’s multipurpose hall, RM10,000 for the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), and RM5,000 for the village’s women wing.
Also present were Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan, Assistant Minister for Public Utilities ( Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Serian District Officer Sindi Muling.
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassa1n, Public Utilities Minister