DALAT: The Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) has been asked to look into water supply issues involving the storage pond at Sungai Ud here.
Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said there were various maintenance works that needed to be undertaken to improve the situation.
“There are several factors causing the smelly and turbid water pipes. The storage pond at Sungai Ud is infested with algae and other aquatic plants which are in a rotten state.
“With limited manpower, the process of clearing the algae and aquatic plants is slow. Moreover, the flushing works to pump in new water source to the storage pond every night is also slow given that it is only relying on one pump.
“There is a new pump available, but we are still waiting for the contractor to install it. It is still not installed because the contractor is involved with other projects throughout Sarawak,” she said.
The Minister for Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development stated that the water woes in her constituency should be a thing of the past as the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had given approval for new projects.
“The matter of solving and improving water supply in Dalat was brought to the chief minister’s attention during his visit back in 2018 and he has approved an allocation of RM45.5million for this under the people’s project.
“With the approval of new projects by the chief minister, we thought the water woes in Dalat would soon be a thing of the past.
“However, looking at this storage pond especially on its depth and maintenance issues, it makes me wonder? Is there a better long term solution to this issue?” she asked.
Fatimah noted there were a few suggestions made by the Dalat district office (DO) and herself for the authorities concerned to address the issues promptly.
She suggested the clearing works of algae and other aquatic plants in the storage pond be done on a gotong-royong basisby the village folks.
“Of course, this must be done in compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and by using the casting pukat) method. If we continue to depend on the current manpower, it will be time consuming. I hope the District office will look into this.
“Secondly, JBALB must get the contractor to install the pump by hook or by crook. The pump is at the site and the contract was already awarded so there is no excuse as the people in Dalat are at the receiving end. Once the pump is installed, more water can be flushed out of the storage pond at night and fresh water from Labrasau and Sungai Ud can be pumped in,” she said.
