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Free water from June 1
29/03/2008 The Star By Dharmender
Singh
SHAH ALAM: Domestic consumers in Selangor who are using individual meters
will start enjoying free usage of water for the first 20 cu m from June 1.
Those whose supply is linked to bulk meters – including flat, apartment and
condominium dwellers – will not enjoy the free water just yet.
Water distribution concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) has
been working to provide individual meters to those living in flats,
apartments and condominiums but the process has been slow, as all the owners
in a particular scheme would have to agree to the change before it can be
implemented.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said in a statement yesterday that the
state government had studied the proposal to provide the free water and had
worked out a formula that would benefit the people, the state and the
environment.
He said the study found that the state government could for now provide free
water to households with individual meters.
The decision, he said, was to lessen the burden of the people, especially
those in the lower income group.
“But consumers should use water wisely and responsibly to avoid wastage that
will affect efforts to conserve the state’s water resources,” he added.
He said the state government would also soon diversify raw water sources as
part of a move to conserve the state’s own resources.
Selangor has run out of rivers to tap for drinking water and has been
working on an inter-state water transfer project with Pahang to ensure
adequate supply in the future.
Syabas declined comment on the free water offer.
Meanwhile, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) said in a statement
that it had studied the Sungei Sireh Water Treatment Plant operation and
maintenance agreement and “requires further information before arriving at a
decision as to whether it is in compliance with the Water Services Industry
Act 2006”.
The statement added that SPAN had received several agreements from Puncak
Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd including the Sungei Sireh agreement.
The Sungei Sireh agreement was signed by the State Secretary on behalf of
the Selangor State Government and Puncak Niaga on March 7, the statement
said.
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