GEORGE TOWN, Dec 2 — Despite being turned down several times, the Penang government has not given up hope of importing raw water from neighbouring Perak.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said a completed study by the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) on the water resource in Sungai Perak showed that it has sufficient water supply for northern Perak and Penang.
“We were unable to continue discussions on the SPRWTS earlier this year as it was pending the completed report of the study but now that it’s completed, it showed Sungai Perak has sufficient water for Penang to extract water from it,” he said in a press conference after a ground breaking ceremony of a funeral parlour by the Hindu Endowment Board at Rifle Range here.
He was referring to the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme by its abbreviation.
He said the state is now waiting for a tripartite discussion between Penang, Perak and KASA.
Chow was responding to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad’s comments yesterday that there is insufficient supply of raw water in Sungai Perak to let Penang draw water from the river under the SPRWTS.
Chow said Saarani should refer to the facts from the report by KASA that was completed sometime in September.
Chow said he respects the Perak MB’s views, but added that Saarani’s concerns were before the water study had been completed.
He said the study also recommended several options on where to build the underground tunnel for the SPRWTS and where to build the treatment plant.
“What is the point of doing a study if you don’t look at recommendations of study?” he asked.
He said hundreds of millions of litres of water from the Perak River flow to the sea daily that could be better used as an additional resource to other states.
“I have read through the executive summary of the study by KASA, it has several options and costs for the project is between RM4 billion to RM6 billion,” he said.
He suggested that the project could be split between the federal government and the Penang government with the state paying for the components it would use.
He said it would be sufficient if Penang could draw 700 million litres per day (MLD) from the Perak River.
“This is not to replace the water supply from Sungai Muda but will act as another resource for Penang,” he said.
However, he said that by 2050, there will be a global water crisis that will not only be affecting Penang but countries worldwide.
