Snowdan: Kg Telagus, Balai Ringin water woes to be resolved once Serian Regional Phase 2 project completed
Water woes, including the occasional no water supply during the dry season particularly at Kampung Telagus in Balai Ringin, will be resolved upon the completion of the Serian Regional Phase 2 project, said Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The Balai Ringin assemblyman, who is also Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, said the project involves two packages.
“I believe the water supply problem in Kampung Telagus and Balai Ringin in general will be resolved upon completion of the Serian Regional Phase 2 project,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
The statement was issued after
the Yang di-Pertuan Agong AlSultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin AlMustafa Billal Shah highlighted the water supply issue in Kampung Telagus during the State Banquet to welcome His Majesty to the state capital in conjunction with the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour on Tuesday.
Snowdan pointed out that the first package of the project involves the supply of treated water from Slabi Water Treatment Plant in Serian to Simpang Simunjan.
“The scope of work consists of laying the main pipe, reticulation pipe, and communication pipe to every household and consumer in the area.
“A high-level water tank with a capacity of 3 MLD (million litres daily) will also be built at Melikin,” he said, adding the project is estimated to cost RM100 million with a grant from the state government.
The second package, he said, will involve laying the main pipeline, reticulation pipe, and communication pipe to every household and consumer from Simpang Simunjan, Sabal, and Bukit Punda until Simunjan.
It also consists of the construction of a high-level water tank with a capacity of 1.8 MLD at Sabal-Bukit Punda and booster pump station to be situated at Simpang Simunjan, and also a high-level water tank with a capacity of 2.6 MLD.
“This Phase 2 project is estimated to cost RM160 million, also with a grant from the state government.
“The tender for Package 1 of the project is scheduled for next month. Land acquisition for the high-level water tanks is completed and handover has been done,” Snowdan said.
He said that thereafter, construction of the pipeline can proceed, while the building plan for the high-level water tanks will be done simultaneously.
“The above are to provide long-term solution to treated water supply problems in my constituency,” he added.
“For short-term measure, the Resident’s Office, sub-district office and the district office together with JBALB (Rural Water Supply Department) are sending water by tankers to help supply water to the kampungs (villages) during this drought season.”
In the statement, Snowdan thanked His Majesty for highlighting the people’s problems with regards to the water supply issue in Kampung Telagus. “Kampung Telagus is situated in my Balai Ringin constituency and is one of the many villages throughout the state affected by water supply problems.
“I have quite often highlighted this issue to the agency and through my media statements, and also during meet-the-people sessions to the Tuai Rumah (village chieftains) accordingly, so that they can update and inform their rakyat (people),” Snowdan said.
He also thanked the state government, which had granted funding totalling RM260 million for the Package 1 and 2 projects to resolve the problem in the long run.