SIBU: Three water pipe bursts which led to water supply being cut off to some households are being blamed on the upgrading project of Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah which commenced on April 17.
DAP Sarawak’s political education bureau director, Irene Chang said she had received such complaints, the first after the water pipe at SMK Sungai Merah burst on April 20.
“The water supply was completely cut off at around 3pm and was not fully restored until 6pm the next day,” she said in a press statement on Monday (April 29).
“The second time the water pipe was damaged was on April 27 and the third incident was on April 28.
“This had caused a lot of inconvenience and frustration to the residents staying in the area, especially when it had happened on the weekends when most families would be at home.”
Chang said while it is good that the project to widen the road has begun and some inconvenience to the residents and road users is to be expected during the construction period, it is totally unacceptable if all three incidents of water pipe bursts were caused by the construction works which had only 12 days ago.
She said the residents had expressed concerns that if this continues they would be facing many water and other utility disruptions for the duration of the construction works.
The project is only expected to be completed in two years’ time.
“Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang and the authorities concerned should take cognisance of the residents’ complaints and frustration and check into the water pipe burst incidents to make sure that they were not caused by the ongoing construction works,” she said.
“Utility disruption during road construction can be disruptive and costly, causing delays, wastage, and inconvenience to the public,” she added.
