The second phase of the Government’s stop-gap measure to plug the projected shortfall in Selangor’s water supply is likely to cost much more than the first phase.
This is in view of the expected increased demand for water until 2017, the need for a higher reserve margin for water, and the higher cost involved in bringing in water from Rasa, Selangor.
The first phase, which is already in progress, costs RM275mil and will add 215 million litres per day (MLD) to meet demand until 2014, when Selangor is expected to face a water supply shortage. Phase Two will increase capacity by 481 MLD, which will meet demand until 2017.
The cost for the second phase, which was recently approved, is not finalised yet as design works are still under way. Initial estimates tag this second phase at RM331mil.
Besides the five projects currently listed under the second phase, an additional job which will require the approval of Selangor, is being considered the upgrading of the Sungai Langat water treatment plant.
“It will be more costly than the first phase,” Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin told StarBiz. “We are bringing in water from Rasa in Selangor when we could have obtained it easily from Pahang under the interstate raw water transfer programme and Langat 2 water treatment plant project.”
The failure to implement the Langat 2 treatment plant, which has been delayed by 15 months, has been attributed to the refusal of the Selangor government to approve the development order and other approvals necessary for the implementation of the project.
“As a result, we will be facing an acute water shortage if the Federal Government does not take any action now,” said Chin.
To overcome this water shortage problem, two phases of a water mitigation programme have been approved by the Federal Govern-ment.
The first phase was approved under the 10th Malaysia Plan in June last year.
