TO date, 216 rural water supply projects (BALB) under National Key Result Areas (NKRA) programmes for rural water supply (2010-2012) have been completed and another 261 are at various stages of implementation.

Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday, revealed that under the programme it was expected that about 89,000 households would benefit from the projects.

He also said by the end of this year, the number of beneficiaries would be around 13,000 households, increasing to 50,000 next year and 89,000 households in 2013.

“The state is allocated some RM1.61 billion to implement the BALB (Projek Bekalan Air Luar Bandar) under the NKRA programmes involving a total of 477 projects,” he said.

The Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister also disclosed that the government would implement another 30 water supply projects at a cost of RM109.75 million under a special fund.

“To date, 24 projects have been completed while six projects are at various stages of implementation,” he continued.

Touching on water supply in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) area, Awang Tengah said the development of Phase I Stage I water supply works to coverSamalajuIndustrial Park,SamalajuNewTownshipand nearby villages such as Kampung Kuala Nyalau, Nyalau Tengah, and Ulu Nyalau in Bintulu Division had been completed.

In order to meet the increasing water demand in SamalajuIndustrial Park, he said the government was also implementing Phase I Stage II of the project which involved the construction of an 80-megalitre-per-day treatment plant, a five-megalitre high rise tank and associated facilities.

Awarded in October this year, he said the project is scheduled for completion by April 2013.

Awang Tengah also highlighted the need to develop a new raw water source in Samalaju in addition to the existing raw water supply from Sika Reservoir to ensure adequate and reliable water supply to meet requirements of the various industries.

“With regard to the long term supply of water in Tanjung Manis and the surrounding areas, a feasibility study shall be carried out to obtain raw water supply from Batang Rajang,” he added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/22/216-rural-water-supply-projects-completed/#ixzz1fuVcOAEX