KUCHING: About 20,000 villagers living in and around the Bengoh area should have consistent clean water supply by the end of this year, said Assistant Public Health Minister Dr Jerip Susil.

Dr Jerip, who is the local elected representative, said there were as many as 20 villages in the Penrissen area and 29 in Krokong.

“All the reticulation (of water pipes) is done. All of it. It is a matter of commissioning right now.

“When? I’m not so sure. We are working it out with the Public Works Department and the contractors.

“The contract period ends in 2013,” Dr Jerip told reporters yesterday after the launch of a community event here.

“All the villages have submitted letters asking to have their water meters installed. The pipeline is all there.

“We are just waiting (for the water supply).”

He said villagers were unlikely to experience water shortages over the next few months.

“We have sufficient rain for now. There is enough water for the gravity feed (system to work).

“Before and during Gawai time is OK. It’s July and August, when it gets dryer,” Dr Jerip said.

The area, about 40km from this city centre, is the site of new public housing estates set up as part of the Bengoh dam project.

The dam, unlike the other dams being built and planned in Sarawak, is not for power generation purposes.

It will be the main source of water supply for Kuching over the next few decades.

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