KAPIT: A total of 42 projects under the Ulu Rajang Development Agency (Urda) are being implemented to develop rural areas.
Urda chairman Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said six projects had been completed while 25 projects are still in the process and another 11 are still in the planning stage.
“The Sarawak government allocated RM1.5bil to Urda to ensure that all 42 projects can be completed, especially for the benefit of the communities around the Rajang River basin.”
He said this during a press conference after chairing the fourth Urda meeting here on Wednesday (Oct 12).
Nanta, who took over as chairman from the late Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, disclosed that the meeting agreed to create nine sub-committees to be led by representatives of the people in the area.
The sub-committees are infrastructure and security; agriculture, livestock and fishery; tourism, arts and culture; forestry and environmental sustainability; land affairs and community development; education and health; utilities and telecommunications; entrepreneurial and industrial development as well as youth, sports and technical training.
Nanta stated that a socioeconomic development plan (SEDP) had been prepared by the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) to ensure the involvement of local residents in socioeconomic activities with the cooperation of private investment to increase income.
For the record, Urda was established in 2017 and it covers a vast area of 41,166.5 square kilometers, which includes Sibu and Kapit divisions and five districts – Kanowit, Song, Kapit, Bukit Mabong and Belaga.
