ALOR STAR: The Kedah government is to undertake repairs immediately to a submarine water pipeline from the mainland to Langkawi that can help save 20 million litres of non-revenue water daily - half the total volume of water supplied to the island.
That much of treated water is leaking through 24 holes along a three-metre stretch of the pipeline, Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (pix) said today.
“The cost of the repairs is estimated to be RM50 million and the state government will seek a grant from the Federal Government to finance the project.
“We have also applied for a grant from the Environment and Water Ministry to a new project to channel raw water to Langkawi for treatment on the island,” he told a press conference after chairing the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council.
He said it is hoped that the application will be considered immediately so as to resolve the water supply problem in Langkawi.
Muhammad Sanusi also said that the state government has approved a monthly allocation of RM2,000 for the administrative expenses of all service centres of opposition state assemblymen beginning September.
“For this year, the payment involves a total allocation of RM104,000. The money can be used to pay bills or services provided at these centres,” he said.
He also said that the state government will provide a development allocation of RM70,000 annually to all opposition assemblymen for infrastructure repairs in their respective constituencies.
The 36-seat Kedah state legislative assembly has 11 opposition representatives - five from PKR, four from Amanah and two from DAP - and two independents. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) state government has 23 assemblymen - 15 from PAS, two from Umno, four from Bersatu and two independents.z -Bernama
