More treated water for Selangor

The Star, Friday, 20 May 2016

BY QISHIN TARIQ

The Jalan Bukit bridge in Kajang will be elevated to ease water flow along Sungai Jelok while reinforcement work will be done to repair the sidewalks that had recently collapsed because of erosion. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

SELANGOR’S water supply is set to be secured as two new treatment plants are due to be completed by 2018.

State Infrastructure and Public Facilities Committee chairman Zaidy Abdul Talib said once completed, the two plants – Semenyih 2 and Labohan Dagang – would respectively produce 100 million and 400 million litres of water a day, enough for 50,000 users.

“There needs to be an increase in the production of filtered water in the next two years to meet demand,” Zaidy said at a press conference in a restaurant in Kajang after making a site visit to check on flood mitigation measures needed in Kajang town.

The study showed that the seven million residents of Selangor use about 4,800 million litres of water a day, which is expected to increase by 3.5% a year.

Zaidy said the RM200mil project for the Semenyih 2 plant had just been awarded to Tenaga Tiub Sdn Bhd.

Tenaga Tiub would begin work on the plant in Jenderam Hilir, Dengkil by the end of the month.

It is expected to be completed by December, 2017.

The second plant, in Labohan Dagang, Banting is still in the tender process and the project is expected to be completed by June, 2018.

Zaidy said the state government had set aside RM400mil for four packages, covering deepening and reinforcing the existing pond, installing pipes as well as building the reservoir and treatment plant.

He also announced a Public Works Department (JKR) project to mitigate the recent flooding at the Balai Kajang and Pasar Kajang area.

He said the Jalan Bukit bridge in Kajang would be elevated to ease water flow along Sungai Jelok while reinforcement work would be done to repair the sidewalks that had recently collapsed because of erosion.

Traffic would be redirected to Jalan Mewah as the bridge would be closed while work is ongoing.

“We have to take urgent steps to address the flooding issue here,” he said.

On May 7, 8 and 11, massive floods hit Kajang following record amounts of rain, at 120mm, 88m and 111mm respectively.

Zaidy said even though Metro Kajang Holding Bhd was responsible for widening the river further, federal funds would be used to cover the project’s cost which is estimated to be around RM1mil for initial works.

“We hope to complete the project in six months,” he said.