KUCHING, Jan 21: The State government is now implementing high impact projects under the ‘Projek Rakyat’ programme to improve the water supply systems in Sibu and Kanowit.
Minister for Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunication Sarawak Datuk Julaihi Narawi in a statement today said Sarawak Government, through his ministry and its agencies, the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) and Sibu Water Board (SWB), is aware of the water supply issues faced by residents in Sibu Jaya, Kanowit, Machan, Nibong Tada, Durin and surrounding areas.
According to him, the government has already taken steps to address these issues by implementing the Proposed Water Supply Kanowit Phase 2 (Stage 2) Sibu Division, Proposed Pipeline from Salim Water Treatment Plant, Sibu Water Board to Kanowit, Sibu Division.
“With the completion of the Kanowit phase 2 project, which is funded by the State government, it will be able to address the water supply issues identified in Sibu and Kanowit areas” he said.
Julaihi said the scope of works for this project consists of pipelines, construction of booster station, and 3.5 million litres (ML) elevated water tank and other associated works.
“The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022,” he added.
Sibu Water Board will also implementing the Salim Water Treatment Plant Phase 3 project to upgrade the existing capacity of the treatment plant from 150 million litres per day (MLD) to 300 MLD to meet the daily water demand until 2040.
The Ministry is addressing the water supply issues holistically in the central region which includes all the areas in Sibu division, including the coastal areas, which will be linked to the Sibu, Sarikei and Mukah water supply systems amongst others in the future as part of the state-wide water supply grid.
The State government, under the Post Covid Development Strategy 2030, has proposed the implementation of a Utility Corridor in collaboration with Public Works Department (JKR), Land and Survey Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH), water supply agencies and others concerned to facilitate the installation of utility services.
This proposed corridor will improve the reliability and service level performance of the utilities as well as avoid any future utility relocation works, which can cause interruption of services, accidental damages to utility infrastructures and inconvenience to the consumers.
Under this proposed corridor utility initiative, new roads and bridges will be designed to cater for the Utility Corridor. — DayakDaily
