NATIONAL Water Services Commission (SPAN) representatives will be heading to Langkawi next week to check on the water supply, particularly in Kampung Ladang Sungai Raya, near Kisap, after residents vented their frustration over 24 months of frequent disruptions.
SPAN chairman Charles Santiago said he would meet with water concessionaire, Syarikat Air Darul Aman (Sada), and residents with the hope of providing a solution to their water woes.
Santiago said the commission wished to understand the water supply issues on the island resort, which is a premier tourist destination.
"It is unfortunate that there are disruptions on the island because we are not only catering to local residents but foreign tourists as well. We need to ensure that our services are reliable," Santiago said.
Sada has reportedly revealed plans to upgrade its systems, including installing more undersea pipes to meet the growing demand on the island.
There are no dams on the island, which is served only by water ponds.
Residents of Kampung Ladang went to the Sada office last week, saying they were fed up with the constant disruptions and having to fetch water from a stream nearby.
About 100 households are affected in the village that was once part of a sprawling rubber estate.
Village spokesman Nagaiah Velu said Sada needs to provide a steady flow of water tankers to the affected households if there is no piped supply.
Nagaiah said the villagers have sent a memorandum to Sada, SPAN and the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
"We have had enough excuses. We are encountering an inconsistent piped water supply, (there is) no clean water for us."
Deepavali celebrations were affected and some children in the village had skipped school as there was no water for bathing, said Nagaiah.
"Sometimes, there are no water tankers dispatched to the neighbourhood. The villagers go for days without clean water."
Yet Sada continues to bill the villagers for water, said Nagaiah.
"We cannot be without piped water our entire lives. So please heed our plight."
A Sada spokesman, when contacted, said the concessionaire is looking into the matter. – The Vibes, November 25, 2023.
