SUNGAI PETANI: The decision to develop an underground dam in Langkawi to meet the tourism island's water needs was made after extensive studies by federal government agencies.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the project was approved after studying five options identified by the agencies.
Sanusi said the project was mooted after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak approved a RM600 million allocation to resolve Langkawi's water supply issues several years ago.
"The RM600 million allocation also included a RM50 million loan to repair the undersea water pipeline from the mainland to Langkawi.
"We have applied and already obtained the loan," he said after launching a state World Environmental Day event at Dataran Tsunami, Kota Kuala Muda here today.
Present were state Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply and Environmental Committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria, Department of Environmental (DoE) director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar and state DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab.
Sanusi said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage's (DID) National Hydraulic Research Institute Malaysia (Nahrim) studied five options to resolve Langkawi's water woes.
"An underground dam, modelled after similar ones in Japan, was selected after the studies by Nahrim concluded that it was suitable because Langkawi has two hills. We just have to block one side to contain the water for use.
"This was selected by the agency under DID as a water resource in Langawi. It was selected by the agency concerned, not by me," he said.
Sanusi added that the Kedah State Water Resources Board (LSANK) had agreed to the recommendation and forwarded it to the state executive council for approval.
Following the approval, Sanusi said an LSANK delegation led by a state executive councillor, will visit underground dams in Japan.
Sanusi also hit back at critics for accusing him of announcing the underground dam for Langkawi without carrying out proper studies.
"Some people said I am a general expert and this (Langkawi underground dam) is just another project that will never take off.
"I will not mention (the project) without proper studies by the department and agency.
"I think those who made such comments on social media did not study. Just go ask the DoE, Nahrim, DID and LSANK to get the answer," he said.
Recently, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir was reported as saying that the federal government has agreed to fund an underground dam in Langkawi.
He said the move would help to increase raw water resources in Langkawi while reducing dependence on treated water supply from the mainland.