SERIAN, Oct 23: A total of 38 Rural Water Supply (BALB) projects funded by the Federal government with RM1.7 billion allocated this year are being implemented across Sarawak to provide clean water to rural communities.
Minister of Rural Development Dato Seri Mahdzir Khalid pointed out that the Ministry will also continue to implement BALB projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan starting this year until 2025.
“This is part of the responsibility of the Ministry pertaining to the people’s infrastructure especially in Sarawak.
“As the (national) budget will be announced next week in Parliament, we will know the estimates of the expenditure needed to be allocated for 2022,” he told reporters after inspecting an elevated water tank and a symbolic hand over of a rural water supply project in Kampung Mentong Merau/Mongkos yesterday.
Elaborating on the water supply project in Kampung Mentong Merau/Mongkos, Mahdzir said that the RM112.37 million project, which started in 2017, will benefit 14,385 residents in the areas involved.
“The work scopes include the installation of pipelines spanning 165km, construction of an elevated water tank with one million litre capacity at Kampung Senggai Mawang and a 2.5 million litre capacity tank at Kampung Muara Ahi.
“It will also involve installation of house-to-house pipelines as well as the constructions of booster pump stations which will cater to the needs of at least 5,000 residents,” he added.
If works progressed smoothly, Mahdzir said the project is expected to be completed by November this year.
Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Utility Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Rural Development Minister II Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, Assistant Minister of Utility (Electricity Supply) Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land And Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Serian MP Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem, Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben, Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus and Serian Resident Tuah Suni were among those present. — DayakDaily
