SIMUNJAN: The long drawn water woes in Simunjan are expected to be resolved by the end of October this year.

The water mains connecting this coastal town from Gedong in Serian is scheduled to be completed by then, said Assistant Minister of Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais yesterday.

He said the laying of water mains along the proposed Gedong-Simunjan Road was progressing well.

Work on the road itself is expected to be wrapped up when construction of the Sungai Sageng Bridge is completed by the end of September this year.

“The putting up of a high-level water tank in Simunjan town at a cost of RM42 million will be completed by the end of next month.

That means once the water mains are completed, water supplies to Simunjan town will be stabilised,” Naroden told The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) III here yesterday.

He said the total cost of the Gedong-Simunjan road plus the Sageng Bridge was about RM120 million. Simunjan is presently facing water problems due to the dry season. Clean water is supplied from Asajaya and Kampung Tembirat.

At the Sungai Buluh ferry point, a lorry driver, who transported water here, said he made three to four trips daily. Each of the three tanks of clean water he carried was sufficient for four to five families.

Naroden, who is also Simunjan assemblyman, said Simunjan town was set to become a major coastal hub town in the next 10 to 15 years. The master plan for this transformation was unveiled recently.

“By then Siminjan will be well connected to Sebuyau, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Gedong and Serian,” he said.

The Batang Sadong Bridge at Sungai Buluh, which will be the longest in Sarawak, connects Simunjan and Sebuyau to Asajaya. Works on the bridge’s foundation is progressing well.

At present, there is a ferry service at Sungai Buluh, which lies next to the proposed bridge, for the people from here and Sebuyau to travel to Asajaya.

Naroden said Simunjan would have a new township. It would be built in phases.

Estimated to cost some RM500 million, the proposed Simunjan township will have a new commercial centre, residential areas, and light industrial estate.

The town’s population is expected to swell from the current 35,000 to 45,000 in the next 10 to 15 years.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/16/simunjan-water-woes-will-be-resolved-soon/#ixzz2abN4OnC5