KLANG: It is high time for the Selangor state government to form a special working committee to combat water crisis and focus on water conservation in the state, said Klang MP Charles Santiago (pic).
The committee, he said, should work together with the state water and infrastructure executive committee and come up with a comprehensive plan on water conservation.
Water levels at the Sungai Selangor and Semenyih dams are diminishing at a rate of 0.62% and 0.47% respectively on a daily basis due to the El Nino effect.
“Although the dams are at 66.73% and 70.65% capacity now, the situation may not be the same at the end of the month. In fact, the capacities of the dams were more than 93% in early March.
“So we must not wait and see anymore. We need to take action as if we are in a crisis,” he said at his office here Wednesday.
Santiago also said the special committee should be chaired by the Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali himself to ensure work is done properly and timely.
“The committee should consist of key members including the water licensing body Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS), state exco members, state assemblymen and also non-governmental organisations.
“A clear plan on reducing high water usage amongst household and commercial consumers should be made focus of the committee,” he said.
Santiago said that the committee should focus on a clear plan to reduce high water usage amongst households and commercial consumers.
With the fasting month of Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaching in several months’ time, Santiago noted that any water shortage would lead to serious consequences affecting the rakyat.
“If the hot spell continues, we could be smacked in the middle of a water crisis in about a month and a half when water levels at the Sungai Selangor dam drop below the critical and bare margin of 40%.
“Similarly, the Semenyih dam would reach critical level in about two months’ time,” he said, adding that the two dams provided water to 5.8 million consumers in Putrajaya and the Klang Valley,” he added.
Santiago noted that water catchments areas must be preserved and not encroached into to make way for development or highway construction.
“Do not mess with any of the water catchments area because they are huge concerns for Selangor’s water supply.”
He also suggested that the state implement a water auditing system, with trained water auditors providing expert advice to all household and commercial consumers on how to conserve water in their daily life or operations based on their usage patterns.
With a high water consumption of 232 litres per person per day in Malaysia, Santiago also called upon all consumers to be watchful by cutting down wastage and non-essential activities such as washing cars.
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