SARAWAK has increased its allocation to overcome water problems in the state’s water-stressed rural areas from RM2 billion to RM2.8 billion.

The money is for the implementation of 247 projects that can fix the problems, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said at the Borneo water and waste water exhibition and conference in Kuching today.

He has given the Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply, Dr Stephen Rundi, a deadline of two years to end the water woes of rural residents.

The contracts to improve the water distribution system will only be awarded to Sarawak companies.

He said “a lot of companies” will be awarded the contracts “to spread them out” so the remedial projects can be finished within two years.

The chief minister did not go into details on what the remedial projects are, but the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Utilities, Alice Jawan later said the contracts are for replacing ageing and under-capacity water treatment plants, undersized and leaking water pipes and mains, water tanks for holding water reserves and building a new distribution network.

Abang Johari said the present water distribution system in some parts of the state’s coastal areas have been found to be wanting.

Solving the water woes is part of the first phase of Sarawak’s ambitious multi-billion ringgit water grid.

Earlier reports said the water grid could cost up to RM8 billion and would be completed by 2025. – October 10, 2018.