Temperature rising over dry taps
This is the worst as long as I can remember. Before, the most awful cases we had were dry taps for three days at the most. We are without supply for 10 days now. — Douglas Bujong, villager
SERIAN: The patience of Kampung Panchor Dayak residents here is wearing thin over the disruption of piped water supply to their village since Nov 22.
They claimed only their village, situated off the 27th Mile of the old Kuching-Serian Road were affected by the water supply disruption while people living just a few minutes’ walk from the village, had their supply back a few days ago.
“This is the worst as long as I can remember. Before, the most awful cases we had were dry taps for three days at the most. We are without supply for 10 days now,” said villager Douglas Bujong, 37, on Friday.
Douglas who works in a factory near Siburan said his colleagues residing in areas nearby Panchor Dayak, like Kampung Tian Mawang and Tian Sekawan, Kampung Taee and Kampung Bantang told him they do not have problem with their water supply.
“I have heard from my friends in Kampung Rituh Mawang and Rituh Labuan (situated along the Kuching-Serian Road) too that their villages also did not have such problem. No such thing also in Kampung Skuduk, Chupak, Payang, Maang and Sungei Resat, just a few miles from Panchor, but that is understandable, as they got their supply from Mundai (Treatment Plant, Padawan), while ours is from Slabi Water Treatment Plant in Serian,” Douglas added.
On Thursday, Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) issued a press statement saying that the interruption of water supply in Serian since early last month was caused by a series of burst pipes along KuchingSerian Road.
It said the pipes burst in front of JPJ Serian on Nov 2; Tarat (on Nov 10 and Nov 13); Kuching Serian Old Road (Nov 16); Kampung Baki (Nov 24); Baki Old Kuching-Serian Road (Nov 25), Km 35 Kuching-Serian Road (Nov 25) and the Baki-Riih Road (Nov 28) and the discharge pipe from Stabun Reservoir (Nov 24).
JBALB in the statement also said the areas affected were Jaya Ria, Rimba Padi, Pati, Murud Plaman, Taee and Kuhas, as well as Panchor Dayak, stating that the frequent burst pipes were mainly due to heavy traffic, ground condition and aging pipes.
Douglas also claimed the relevant authorities were slow in providing solutions to the problem, despite being told about it several times.
“My uncle had many times referred this to Public Works Department (JKR) office Serian, but instead of taking actions themselves, they asked him to refer it to JKR in Kuching,” he added.
While JBALB stated they were providing water through tankers for the villagers, Douglas said that it was not adequate for the village’s population.
“When it (water tanker) comes to Panchor, those who live near the main road (old KuchingSerian Road) are the first to get water. Once the water in the tanker is finished, villagers who live further inside the village will not get any water at all,”
On the alleged rumours about offers of treated water being sold at a price of RM50 per 1Malaysia (blue) tank, Douglas claimed he had not heard such thing so far.
“If there is such thing, then the authorities should take stern and quick action against individuals hoping take advantage from our problems here,” he said.
Douglas called for the relevant authorities to quickly fix the village’s predicament.
“I hope our leaders including our assemblyman Datuk Roland Sagah come to our village and meet people here themselves. We always know the solutions to our local problems usually arrive fast whenever our leaders come over. The same too with people from DAP or other opposition parties. Don’t only talk to the media but not visit us at all. And for once, be people’s leaders and not politicians.”
In a statement on Friday, DAP Mambong Branch deputy chairman Sanjan Daik alleged that some of the Panchor Dayak villagers told him of rumours that they could buy treated water at the price of RM50 per tank.
He said the authorities provided only one tanker of water which was way too little for washing and cooking since there are more than 100 families at Panchor Dayak.
He added they also complained to him that last Wednesday (Nov 30), there was no supply of water to their village and when asked why, the tanker driver told them that the lorry tanker’s tyres punctured.