EXTRA tankers have been sent to the rural town of Bandar Sri Aman, some 200km from Kuching, to supply the town and surrounding areas affected by drought.

The decision to send in more water tankers was made by Sarawak’s disaster management committee.

The town, which locals prefer to call Simanggang, has a population of some 70,000.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah, who chairs the committee, told reporters this morning its main treatment plant in Bayai is facing a forced shut down as its raw water source, Sg Batang Undup, has “dried up”.

Local authorities are trying to get water, trapped in pockets between the dried-up river and the plant, flowing to the plant.

Uggah, whose constituency of Bukit Saban is also affected by the water shortage, said the authorities have identified several places in the town where people can collect water.

He also warned residents in Pantu, Seduku and Stumbin, all in the Sri Aman division, Lundu and Telok Melano in Kuching division, Asajaya, Simunjan, Sebangan in Samarahan division, Balai Ringin in Serian, Penibong and Kuala Balingian in Mukah, Selangau in Sibu and Suai in Miri to observe conservation practices as the water level of the raw water sources in their respective areas has dropped critically low. 

Uggah warned consumers that apart from drop in quantity, the quality of raw water is also poor.

The local authorities have set themselves the target of delivering water within six hours after receiving such a request.

“That’s the SOP (standard operating procedure) and the KPI (key performance indicator) we have set ourselves.”

Apart from water from tankers, those living in drought-hit areas will also receive bottled water.

The state’s welfare ministry will provide each affected person in areas not easily accessible 24 1.5-litre bottles for a week.

In more accessible areas, the ministry with the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) will provide portable water tanks.

On the smoke affecting parts of the state, Uggah said the end is nowhere in sight yet for Miri and areas in the western parts of the state as strong southwesterly winds are blowing forest and peat fire smoke from Kalimantan to the state.

The Department of Environment has identified 26 “hot spots” this month which contributed to the poor air quality in the state.

With school reopening today after a week-long break, Uggah said schools in areas where the air pollutant index (API) reading breaches 200 will close. – August 19, 2019.