SERIAN, Feb 5: The study on the state Water Supply Grid Masterplan has been completed and the plan expected to be implemented next year.
In disclosing this, Minister of Utilities Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the study will be brought up to the state cabinet within this year.
“Actually, the study on the masterplan has been completed and it is going to be briefed to the state government within this year…and in 2021, we want to kick off the masterplan,” he told reporters, after launching the RM4 million water supply project for Kpg Panchor Dayak, situated along the Kuching-Serian road.
He said the masterplan was the state government’s initiative to provided clean water supply and without major interruption to the people in rural areas by 2025.
Meanwhile, Dr Rundi disclosed that the state government had allocated RM2.8 billion to address problems in water stressed areas, such as laying and placement of pipelines, including in coastal areas and this will be completed by the end of this year and form part of the state’s Water Supply Grid Masterplan.
He explained that the masterplan is to ensure a resilient water supply system for the state.
Dr Rundi also pointed out that 47 per cent of households in the state have been supplied with treated water, excluding those under the Sarawak Alternative Rural Water Supply (Sawas) scheme, adding that the percentage is steadily increasing.
Dr Rundi also said that 97 per cent of the state has electricity coverage where the government has also allocated RM2.37 billion to connect the remaining areas.
He noted it is costly to connect electricity where at least RM70,000 is needed for each household.
The minister Dr Rundi also revealed that more than RM100 million has been marked for addressing water problems in the Tarat constituency, including the RM4 million project launched today which is scheduled to be completed in July this year.
Also present at the launch today were Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Electricity Supply Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Utilities Datuk Alice Jawan, Serian Resident Tuah Suni and Sarawak Administrative Officer Ranum Bari. — DayakDaily
