By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 27: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says Sarawak will pioneer the use of water-based technology via elevated water tanks to irrigate paddy plantations and provide power for the local community.
Abang Johari said a study conducted on the project shows that it is feasible to implement.
“Hopefully, it will start this year in the Stumbin and Lingga areas in Sri Aman.
“This is the new method for us to provide better agriculture infrastructure, which in turn will increase the income of local villagers,” he said during a Majlis Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri programme in the Sebuyau District, which was streamed live via the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) Facebook page today.
He explained that for the project, water from the Batang Lupar catchment area will be pumped into the elevated tank, and a turbine will be installed at the end of the discharge pipe from the tank to turn it into a power plant.
He said the water released from the discharge pipe through the turbine would be contained in one area for paddy irrigation.
“This means the power plant has two functions. This has never been implemented in other places.
“I will also request Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to develop a low-tension cable to provide power that is generated from the elevated tank to the local village, including the paddy plantation area,” he added. — DayakDaily
