ALOR STAR – The water supply problem in Kedah has now worsened, days after low pressure was reported in several rural localities during the long festive break. Some 75,000 households suffered disruptions last night after an irrigation bund collapsed here.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive holidays apologised to the affected consumers for the low water pressure, has now blamed the previous state government under Pakatan Harapan for the fiasco.
He claimed that the PH administration was slow to upgrade water treatment plants in Pokok Sena and Bukit Pinang, causing the water concessionaire Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (Sada) to face difficulty in supplying water in the event of a disruption.
Along with Selangor and Kelantan, Kedah has reputedly suffered from an inability to supply water effectively in recent years.
In a statement, Sanusi once again apologised for the disruptions in certain areas but stressed that the upgrading projects are being implemented.
“Efforts to overcome the problem were reactivated only after a change in the leadership of the state government in May 2020,” he said.
The PH government led by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir fell after it lost its majority in the state assembly, and a new government was formed by Perikatan Nasional with Sanusi, the state PAS deputy commissioner, as the new menteri besar.
Sanusi said that efforts are underway to upgrade five water treatment plants in Kubang Pasu, Bandar Baharu, Baling, Pendang, and Kuala Muda.
The RM931 million projects are expected to be completed by 2025.
He said the state government had also drawn up plans for cutting its losses from non-revenue water, including replacing the main pipes at a cost of almost RM1 billion.
Last night, Sada confirmed that up to 75,000 households in the Kota Setar and Pokok Sena districts suffered disruptions to their water supply after an irrigation canal bund collapsed suddenly due to a heavy rainfall earlier yesterday.
Treatment plants at Pokok Sena and Bukit Pinang were shut down to enable emergency repair works, Sada said in a statement.
Among the affected areas are Pekan Langgar, Jalan Langgar to Alor Setar, Kepala Batas town, Jalan Gunung, Jalan Sg Baru, and Jalan Pantai Johor towards Simpang Empat.
Other affected areas are Istana Anak Bukit, the menteri besar’s official residence in Seri Mentaloon, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Star Prison, Hospital Lama Alor Star, the federal government building, and the state administration centre of Wisma Darul Aman.
As of 9am, the disruption is ongoing, and Sanusi is expected to visit the affected areas in Kg Lubuk Batu to inspect the repair works – The Vibes, May 10, 2022
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