SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government has approved RM10 million to build infrastructure to pump water from former tin mines into Sungai Selangor to supplement raw water supply.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (pix) said installation works have begun a few days ago and the state government is targeting to supply 900 million litres a day (MLD) from nine mines.
"The allocation includes purchasing high capacity pumps (up to 50MLD) to ensure maximum effect to raise water levels at the Sungai Selangor dam," he told the press at the state secretariat today.
The system will also be used to pump water into reservoirs to ensure adequate water supply for Selangor throughout the dry season, which is expected to take place from the end of May until September.
Khalid said water rationing will only be lifted in stages when water levels at the Sungai Selangor dam goes over 40% and show a consistent upward trend.
"We want to make sure that there will be enough water supply for the public in the next five to six month where the dry season will take place," he said.
Khalid said water levels at other dams are well over 50% but they only account for a fraction of the total supply in Selangor while the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies over 60% of water in the state, is at 38.97%.
The water pumping will be handled by the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) and the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS).
Press conferences will also be held by state executive councillor of infrastructure Dr. Yunus Hairi every two days to keep the public up to date about the water situation in Selangor starting on Friday.
Khalid said he will be having a meeting with the Federation of Manufacturers Malaysian (FMM) to assuage fears that they will not have enough water to sustain their businesses.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the window for the state's four water concessionaires to take up Selangor's offer to take over water assets at RM9.65 billion will expire in the next few days.
The state government will proceed with their restructuring exercise after the offer expires and they are currently drawing up final draft documentations to implement Section 114 of the Water Services and Industries Act (WSIA).
Khalid said the state government will look into proposals of implementing rainwater harvesting but remarked that it is not an "economically interesting" policy as Malaysia has plenty of water supply.
The Sun
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