By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 10: A new 20 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant and a massive 164-kilometre water pipe grid system worth over RM291 million have been approved for Lundu District to tackle long-standing low water pressure issues and strengthen supply across the region.
State Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said the Sarawak government has committed to several major water infrastructure projects in Lundu and its surrounding areas, including Sematan sub-district, to improve access to clean and consistent water.
“One of the key components is the development of a 164-kilometre water pipe grid system of various sizes across the Lundu District, including Sematan, at an estimated cost of RM150 million,” he said, as reported by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
“When this grid system project is completed, it will establish a comprehensive water supply system in the Lundu District and form a new water grid for the area. This will eventually be linked to the existing grid in Bau, within the Kuching Division.
“This means we’ll have an integrated water supply system in the Kuching Division, which will not only utilise the current water supply sources in Lundu but will also receive water from Batu Kitang. Altogether, this forms a larger grid for the southern region,” he added.
Julaihi was speaking to reporters during a working visit to the Sematan Water Treatment Plant in Lundu today.
He said a new water treatment plant with a capacity of 20 MLD will also be built in Lundu, with an estimated project cost of RM130 million. The project is currently in the contractor appointment phase.
While the Lundu District already has access to piped water, Julaihi emphasised that the new plant is essential for ensuring better pressure, reliability, and stability in the system.
He revealed that the existing Sematan Water Treatment Plant is now supplying 4.3 million litres per day, with additional smaller plants in the area contributing to a total output of around 10 million litres daily.
To further enhance the region’s water infrastructure, Julaihi shared that RM129 million has also been allocated by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development for additional water-related projects in Lundu.
However, this particular project is currently undergoing a retendering process.
“We hope this project can be implemented in the near future, as it will become an integral part of our water grid system in Lundu,” he added.
Also present during the visit were Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang, Tanjung Datu assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan, and senior officials from the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak. — DayakDaily
