KUCHING, May 25: Although Kampung Akot and Kampung Mejerin, Petung, may be located just 40km from Kuching and only a few minutes’ drive from Beratok Bazaar and Siburan town respectively, they both still do not have treated water supply.
The residents of these two villages have for many years been dependent on rainwater for their daily needs. Many of them often resorted to buying water from the dispensing water machine from Beratok Bazaar.
These practices have been ongoing ever since they started living at the settlement and despite living within the enclave of Kampung Petung.
The current dry spell has resulted in acute shortage of rainwater for their daily use, and these residents have reached out to Habitat of Indigenous and Urban Program (Hidup), a local-based NGO, on their predicament.
Hidup acted immediately to this humanitarian call for help by knocking on the doors of Kuching Water Board (KWB), which responded promptly by sending in its 4,500-litre water delivery truck to the two villages.
According to the KWB person-in-charge, the delivery of water can be scheduled once weekly or as and when needed by the villagers.
Hidup, on its part, donated two units of 400-gallon water tank to these villages.
The NGO will bring in the funds through a social media campaign to collect the targeted RM10,000 for the supply of pipes and other materials to bring in water via a connection from the main pipe adjacent to the community hall.
Hidup president George Young Si-Ricord Junior said this would make it possible for the 10 to 20 households in the two villages to get safe-drinking water daily.
For those wishing to support the campaign can obtain more information from their Facebook, Hidup Kuching or contact them at 0111-8990528/ 0111-8580528. — DayakDaily
