JOHOR BARU: WATER tariff in the state may go up by 10 to 12 per cent starting next year in a move to safeguard its water resources.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the increase was inevitable as the cost to safeguard its water resources from pollution had doubled over the years.
He said the last revision was in 2010, adding that the new tariff would allow the state government to better manage and protect its water resources and assets from constant pollution by agricultural activities.
“The new proposed tariff had been submitted to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) for review recently as SPAN had proposed a higher tariff for the state to impose,” he said after launching a Water Services Industry 2014 seminar at Persada Johor International Convention Centre here yesterday.
He said SPAN had pushed for the state government to raise the water rates to at least 22 per cent since last year in order for the state to better maintain its water resources.
“Our concern is if the rise in the new tariff will be too much for Johoreans to bear as the increase in living cost will definitely affect their livelihood. The Sembrong and Machap dams, for instance, face the threat of severe pollution due to modern agriculture in Kluang, resulting in rising costs.”
Hasni said the state government was addressing pollution by coordinating with the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj), Drainage and Irrigation Department, Forestry Department and the Land Office.
He added that the approval of amendments to the Water Enactment 2014 by the state legislative assembly would increase the effectiveness of water resource management enforcement agencies.
“The amendments will empower Bakaj directors to act against those who pollute water supply, including issuing compounds and empowering civil servants to help overcome the pollution in water resource areas.”