GEORGE TOWN: The Pulau Pinang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is implementing four water supply projects to resolve water shortage problems in Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) which when completed, will benefit over 14,000 users in the area.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow who is also PBAPP chairman, said the projects worth RM24.6 million are expected to be completed in stages starting this June until January next year.
"The state government has instructed PBAPP to resolve all water supply issues in SPS immediately and in response, PBAPP has presented two initiatives.
"The first initiative through the SPS Action Plan 2023 involves four projects with a total cost of RM24.6 million involving new suction tanks at Taman Widuri and Taman Wellesley pump houses, which are expected to be completed in October.
"While the other three projects involve construction of a new dissolved air floatation plant of 10 million litres per day (JLH) at the Bukit Panchor Water Treatment Plant (LRA) to be completed in August, a 2.4 JLH LRA at Sungai Kerian and two mobile LRAs of 0.25 JLH at Taman Sungai Duri Indah," he told a press conference here earlier today (June 22) which was also attended by PBAPP chief executive officer, K. Pathmanathan.
Chow said through the second initiative, the construction of Sungai Kerian LRA phase one costing RM171 million, also in SPS is expected to be completed by 2027 which will benefit over 55,000 users in the area.
He said the construction of the Sungai Kerian LRA phase one is to address the high demand for water, especially in SPS until 2030.
"Meanwhile, the state government is also trying to get the approval of the Perak government to implement the Perak-Pulau Pinang Water Project which was previously known as the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS).
"Follow-up actions will be taken including holding discussions to continue negotiations between the two states to resolve the long standing water supply problem for the benefit of the people of both states, " he said. – Bernama