Teo: Banggi water situation not as bad as portrayed

Sabah Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang checks out a well in Pulau Banggi that has been affected by the dry spell.

KOTA KINABALU: The state government is monitoring the drought situation in northern Banggi Island but said it is not as bad as being portrayed in social media.

Sabah Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said water production that was shut down a week ago restarted on Sunday following two days of rain, but the people will continue to receive their supply from the mainland.

He said since the closure of the water plant, the Kudat district office had been sending 40,000 litres of treated water to the island twice daily.

"The people can collect water at a temporary water station near Karakit jetty.

The Kudat district natural disaster management committee will immediately set up several more water stations at strategic locations for the villagers, especially those who do not have their own transport," said Teo during his visit to the island with State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman and Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mijul Unaini.

"We went to several villages and talked to the people and community leaders. We found that despite the dry spell at the island due to El Nino, villagers are carrying out their daily activities as usual.

"It is not that as bad as portrayed by social media," he said, adding that the Banggi water treatment plant is now producing 300,000 litres of water a day and with more rain expected, it should be able to meet the two million litres per day needed by the villagers.

The water department was forced to close the plant after the catchment area dried up about a week ago.

"Though the piped water distribution network covers more than half of the Banggi population, well water and gravity water is still quite commonly used," Teo said.

"In some villages, almost every house has its own well, though the water level is lower then usual," he added.