August 11, 2009

Gerugu Dam to the rescue of Sarikei folk


Sarikei, Bintangor, Tanjung Manis, Belawai assured of a week’s supply from dam as rivers dry up
SARIKEI: Were it not for Gerugu Dam, taps in Sarikei and other surrounding areas depending on Bayong Water Treatment Plant would have already completely run dry by now.
IT’S HERE: Dr Chan (left) being briefed by Foo (second left) at Gerugu Dam office as Ding (right), Tiong (third left) and others look on.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, on being informed about this by the authorities concerned when he visited the dam and the water treatment plant yesterday, urged the people to use water sparingly.
He called on the people to bear with the authorities which had imposed water rationing in a move to sustain supply in the face of current dry spell.
Briefing Dr Chan on the current situation at the dam was an engineer from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (PPES) who is also Gerugu Dam project manager, Major (r) Foo while Divisional Engineer Tiong King Wei and the officer in-charge of Public Works Department (JKR) Water Section, Ahmad Selihin, updated him on the water supply situation.
Dr Chan said the rationing of supply was not aimed at causing inconvenience to the people but rather to minimize the effect of rationing.
According to Dr Chan, the rationing exercise means that water supply has been slashed by half of the normal daily output of 30 million litres covering Sarikei, Bintangor, Tanjung Manis and Belawai.
He said the exercise meant lower water pressure which most people experienced since the past few days.
Dr Chan advised the people against using water for unnecessary purposes like washing cars or drains.
On the Gerugu Dam, Dr Chan said the current dry spell had brought out the best side of the dam which, despite its not fully-completed status, had already been able to support the water need of the people.
According to him, the dam now has enough water to feed the Bayong Water Treatment Plant for the next eight days.
“Sungai Gerugu and Sungai Sarikei, the main sources of raw water to feed the Bayong Water Treatment Plant, have dried up due to the prolonged dry spells.
“Fortunately, the Gerugu Dam project which was designed to increase the water supply capacity from 33 million litres per day (MLD) to 140 MLD, is there to save the day,” he reiterated.
Dr Chan also said that if dry weather persisted, cloud seeding would be carried out today if there is enough rain cloud to support the activity.
Among those accompanying Dr Chan were Sarikei MP Ding Kuong Hiing, councillors and community leaders.
Source : The Borneo Post

No comments: