KAPIT, Oct 3: About 1,300 villagers of Kampung Uma Badeng, Long Busang in Kapit were among Sarawakians from the interiors to benefit from the recent implementation of the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electricity Supply (SARES) and the Sarawak Alternative Rural Water Supply (SAWAS) Schemes.
Through the two schemes, residents in the village can now breathe a sign of relief and will receive electricity and clean tap water 24 hours a day.
Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the 24-hour electricity supply was channelled through the ‘off-grid’ electricity method under SARES at a cost of about RM7 million through funding from the state government, despite of Long Busang location which is about six-hour from Kapit town.
“SARES is a community project because it will be fully handed over to local residents for non-technical maintenance while at the same time, SEB (Sarawak Energy Berhad) will carry out technical monitoring periodically,” Datuk Julaihi Narawi said.
Adding further, Julaihi said residents can save on expenses as they no longer need to buy diesel fuel to power generators for electricity supply because this scheme means no fee is charged.
SAWAS in Long Busang was completed last September at a cost of RM 3.46 million which involved a water treatment system, a reservoir tank and a pipeline to every household in the village.
Meanwhile, touching on the telecommunications problem in the village, the minister said the Malaysian Communications And Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had approved the construction of a telecommunications tower and was looking for a suitable site. – BERNAMA
