By Jacob Achoi
BAU, June 26: The laying of new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water pipes stretching 10.1km across Bau will begin this September to resolve persistent water supply issues affecting the Jagoi and Bratak areas.
Costing approximately RM7 million, the project is expected to take around six months to complete, with the aim of providing a long-term solution to address the recurring water problems in Jagoi and Bratak.
Announcing this at a press conference at Bau District Office today, Deputy Minister of Transport (Maritime and Riverine) Dato Henry Harry Jinep, said the proposed project is solely to provide water to the Pejiru booster pump station to cater for the affected Jagoi and Bratak areas.
“The project, which we expect to complete before the next Gawai, will provide alternative water pipes for the affected areas (Jagoi and Bratak) and become a long-term solution.
“The new water pipes will complement the existing water pipes to supply water to both areas just in case any of the water pipes faced leakage,” Henry pointed out.
He said, the water supply issue is affecting about 7,000 people in the area with over 2,000 households, adding that the situation deteriorates further during festive seasons like Gawai.
Earlier, Henry attended a meeting pertaining to the matter with officials from Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Bau district officer Eddy Nayoi, Temenggong Atok Derop and the affected villages, where he was informed that part of the problem was because of pipe leakages.
Henry, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman, stressed that the project is part of the initiatives to prepare the area for future development.
“Here, we will have the Immigration and Customs Quarantine Station (ICQS), and we also have an army station.
“Also, we are expecting an an extension of a Malay village, and an increasing population, so the project (water laying project) is part of our initiatives to prepare for future development in the area,” he said. – DayakDaily
