RM10 million allocated for infrastructure to alleviate shortage in Selangor

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has approved RM10 million to build infrastructure to pump water from former tin mines into Sungai Selangor to supplement raw water supply.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said installation works began a few days ago and the state is targeting to supply 900 million litres a day (MLD) from nine mines.
“The allocation includes purchasing high capacity pumps (up to 50 MLD) to ensure maximum effect to raise water levels at the Sungai Selangor dam,” he said.
The system will also be used to pump water into reservoirs to ensure adequate water supply for Selangor throughout the dry season, which is expected from the end of May until September.
Khalid said water rationing will only be lifted in stages when water levels at the Sungai Selangor dam goes over 40%.
“We want to make sure that there will be enough water supply in the next five to six months,” he said.
Khalid said water levels at other dams are well over 50% but they only account for a fraction of the total supply in Selangor while the Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies over 60% of water in the state, is at 38.97%.
The water pumping operations will be handled by the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) and the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS).
Khalid said the Department of Environment had conducted tests on the water and had given the assurance that it is safe.
Press conferences will be held every two days from tomorrow by state executive councillor for infrastructure, Dr Yunus Hairi, to keep the public updated about the water situation in Selangor.
Khalid said he will be meeting representatives from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) to assuage fears that they will not have enough water to sustain their businesses.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the window for the state’s four water concessionaires to take up Selangor’s offer to take over water assets at RM9.65 billion will expire in the next few days.
The state government will proceed with their restructuring exercise after the offer expires and they are currently drawing up final draft documents to implement Section 114 of the Water Services and Industries Act (WSIA