KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government has allocated RM11 million to upgrade the Merbau Chondong Water Treatment Plant (LRA) to increase its production capacity from 45 million litres to 70 million litres a day, with the project expected to be completed by January next year.
State Public Works, Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Izani Husin said the capacity expansion is necessary to meet the increasing demand for water, particularly in Pasir Puteh.
He said, however, that previous increases in water output from the plant had led to turbidity issues due to high levels of iron and magnesium in the raw water source.
“Through an RM11 million budget allocation, the state government has carried out improvement works on the treatment process at the Merbau Chondong LRA, and we expect water quality to improve once the project is completed,” he said.
Izani was replying to a question from Nor Asilah Mohamed Zin (Pas-Limbongan) regarding the state government’s efforts to address water supply and quality issues in Pasir Puteh during the Kelantan state legislative assembly sitting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex today.
In a related development, Izani said the state government is also constructing the Tok Bali LRA with a capacity of 50 million litres per day to increase the supply of treated water in Pasir Puteh.
He said physical progress on the project currently stands at 30 per cent, which is one per cent behind schedule, with completion expected by late 2028.
“Once the Tok Bali LRA is completed, 50 million litres of treated water daily will be channelled to Pasir Puteh residents, while supply from Merbau Chondong can be redistributed to meet the needs of other areas,” he said.
Replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Abd Rahman Yunus (Pas-Pasir Tumboh) on the state government’s achievements in improving water supply and quality, Izani said upgrading and repair works on 11 LRAs across Kelantan are also underway.
“Among the plants involved are Kuala Balah, Chicha, Pahi, and Manik Urai, at a total cost of RM3.43 million, funded through Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB).
“The state government is also implementing rural water supply projects, including building a hill reservoir in Merbau and upgrading the pumping system at the Merbau Chondong LRA, with an allocation of RM30 million from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry,” he said. — BERNAMA