RM35 mil allocated to build water pump system in Negeri Sembilan- Hassan

The Negeri Sembilan state government has agreed to allocate RM35 million to build a water pump system to resolve shortage of existing water resources from the Gemencheh Dam which supplies water to Rembau and Tampin districts.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan said construction of the project which will pump water from Sungai Jelai and Kampung Geduhom through Ladang Johol is expected to begin in November and completed by next year.

"These are some medium-term action (one year) taken by the state government and Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn Bhd (SAINS) following shortage of existing water resources from the Gemecheh Dam. For the long-term (3 year), the Sawah Raja Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant, will be build.

"For the short-term, SAINS will implement water rationing in phases in the two districts to overcome low water storage in the dam which is approaching critical stage.

"Meanwhile, the state government has also discussed with the Meteorological Department to do cloud seeding in the areas involved," he told reporters after chairing an exco meeting here today.

SAINS Corporate Communications Unit Assistant Manager Norzita Ismail, in a statement today, said SAINS will carry out scheduled water rationing in Rembau and Tampin.

She said rationing will begin on Sept 22, as early as 10am until 10am the next day (24 hours).

"Rationing will last for two weeks and will not involve public holidays. It will be held every other month. This will go on until further notice," she said.

The Gemencheh Dam obtains raw water from Sungai Ulu Gemencheh and Sungai Salah with a collection area of 2.8km.

Norzita said the Gemencheh Dam has not received rainfall from Aug 2013 until May this year, whereby only a small reading was recorded.

"However, the readings dropped until now and water levels at the Gemencheh Dam also dropped since 2009 and experienced more serious recession this year.

Until yesterday (Sept 9), water levels were at 95.23m and the critical level is 95m," she said.

In preparation for the rationing, SAINS will activate a contingency plan which operates 24-hours at the SAINS Headquarters in Seremban 2.

Anyone requiring assistance can contact SAINS at its toll-free line 1-800-88-6982.

Complaints can also be lodged through short message service to 06-6033500 or e-mail, aduan @sainswater.com.