THE Penang government is ready to take over the Mengkuang dam, which has been widened to 73.5 billion litres, from the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, and has outlined nine conditions to do so.

Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) chief executive officer Jaseni Maidinsa said among the nine conditions was to build the Lahar Yooi Pump House, costing RM80 million under the Fourth Rolling Plan.

In addition, the ministry was also required to complete the raw water pipeline project, worth RM100 million, stretching from the newly upgraded Mak Sulong Pump House in Seberang Perai Tengah to the Sg Dua canal by March 2020, and bear the cost of pumping the raw water at Mak Sulong Pump House to fill the Mengkuang dam.

He said the ministry’s project to widen the Mengkuang dam, worth about RM1 billion, had been completed since May last year, but had yet to be returned to the state government.

“We have sent a letter to the ministry but there has been no reply. We want to be quick. Our main purpose is to take over this dam as part of our preparations to face the rainy season at the end of August until September,” Jaseni told a media conference today.

He said the objective of the acquisition of the dam was to increase raw water resources to meet the demand for clean water that was expected to increase by 2020. – Bernama, March 23, 2018.