KABONG: Residents of Kabong District will enjoy better access to clean water by next year, when the critical system at the Lichok Water Treatment Plant is completed by the end of this year.
Utility and Telecommunication Minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, said the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) has already reduced water supply issues in the district.
“I was informed by Kabong assemblyman, Mohd Chee Kadir, and District Officer, Tahir Mohd Share, that during the recent festive season, the water supply situation was significantly better than in the past.
“This shows that conditions have improved.
“We have managed to meet the needs of residents in Kabong, and with the completion of the critical system currently being built at the Lichok Water Treatment Plant, the situation will improve further.
“This system alone is capable of producing an additional 10 million litres of treated water daily, specifically for the use of Kabong District,” he said after officiating at the handover of the completed Kabong Elevated Water Tank project today.
He explained that the Lichok Water Treatment Plant will produce 25 million litres of water per day at the end of this year.
“The RM28.8-million project, which began in February, is expected to be completed by October and is currently 42 per cent complete.
“The main scope of work involves constructing the critical system and installing a new five-kilometre HDPE pipeline with a 450mm diameter from the plant to the Bukit Lebur water tank,” he added.
The Sebuyau assemblyman explained that the Sarawak government is financing 12 projects amounting to RM107.5 million under Package One of the Kabong District Water Supply Project.
“Of the 12 projects, eight have been completed. These include the construction of a 4.5 million-litre water tank at Bukit Lebur and three million-litre elevated tanks at Simpang Nyabor and Kabong.
“Also completed are the 600mm MSCL pipeline from Bukit Lebur to Simpang Nyabor, and the 450mm MSCL pipeline from Simpang Nyabor to the Kabong elevated tank.
“In addition, completed works include the 300mm steel pipeline across the Sungai Sebelak Bridge, upgrading works to increase the capacity of the Lichok Water Treatment Plant from 12 to 15 million litres per day, and the mechanical and electrical components,” he said.
However, four projects are still in the testing and commissioning phase.
These involve the construction of a one-million-litre elevated water tank at Lubok Nibong, the 355mm HDPE pipeline from Simpang Nyabor to the Nyabor and Lubok Nibong elevated tanks and Kampung Perpat, pipelines of various sizes to Kampung Kaba, Kampung Paloh, and surrounding areas, and the construction of a twin 800mm steel submarine pipeline across Sungai Krian.
“Once all 12 projects under Package One are completed, residents can look forward to a significantly better water supply,” he added.
During his working visit to the Betong Division, Julaihi and his delegation inspected the Lichok Water Treatment Plant and the elevated water tanks at Kabong and Nyabor.
