BINTANGOR: Meradong residents have been assured that the issue of low water pressure and supply of clean water from the Sungai Sian Bintangor Water Treatment Plant will be resolved by June this year.

Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Haji Julaihi Narawi said the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) is currently upgrading the Sungai Sian Water Treatment Plant and other aspects.

“Based on the initial plan, the works to upgrade the treatment plant should have been completed within 15 months’ time, but the previous contractor appointed to carry out these works had failed, and now this project has been stalled for a year,” he said.

“Following that, we have instructed JBALB to fix this issue so that the clean water supply crisis for the residents in this area can be solved immediately,” he said during a site visit to the water treatment plant yesterday.

On the issue relating to the existing submarine pipeline across Sungai Sian that has been cut off, he said works are currently being carried out and are scheduled to be completed this June as well.

Julaihi added that the works to connect the disconnected submarine pipeline would include submarine pipe repair work, ballast installation, testing and several other work scopes.

“We will fully monitor the development of this project to ensure that issues relating to the distribution of clean water supply to the community in this area can be resolved immediately,” he said.

Also present at the visit were Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, JBALB director Chang Kuet Shian, and Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication permanent secretary Jafri Lias.