By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Feb 12: Landeh Water Treatment Plant will be built with 400 MLD (megalitres per day) capacity first, said Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
According to Julaihi, currently, they are in the process of identifying the area and studying the topographic alignment.
“Ultimately, we will increase it until we reach 800MLD to enable us to cater for the demand in Kuching and beyond, including Bau and Samarahan,” he told reporters during a press conference after visiting Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant, here today.
Julaihi said the plant, which is estimated to cost RM1.6 billion, will help to cater for growing demand from Kuching, Bau and Samarahan.
“This mean that we have to look beyond Batu Kitang and Matang water treatment plants.
“So we are looking at Landeh Water Treatment Plant which is already in the pipeline,” he added.
When asked which factors contributed to the increasing demand for water, Julaihi said, apart from domestic demand, there is also demand for industrial usage.
For example, he continued, Sama Jaya Industrial Park which is expected to require at least 21MLD.
“At the same time, Sarawak Department of Rural Water Supply (JBALB) is also purchasing water supply from Kuching Water Board (KWB) which is 15 per cent of the total production.
“We expected it to increase from time to time,” he said. — DayakDaily
