The privatisation of water supply from the Bengoh hydroelectric dam near here is under the purview of the state government, Datuk Seri Peter Chin said here Wednesday.
The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister said he was not aware of the proposed privatisation as water supply is basically a state matter.
"There is separation of powers between the federal and state governments. Why I am involved in the Bengoh dam is because the federal government, through my ministry, gave a loan to the state to build it," he told reporters after presenting an allocation of RM130,000 to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) under its mentor programme fund of 1 Ministry 1 Higher Institution of Learning (1IPTA 1 Menteri) at the Unimas campus today.
Through funds available in the ministry's budget, he said, RM338.9 million had been expended under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and another RM98 million under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Construction of the dam has affected 1,585 people from four villages. When operational by the end of 2013, it will supply untreated water to the Kuching Water Board's treatment plant until 2030.
Work on the project began in July 2007 but the dam's impoundment was delayed pending the resettlement of the affected villagers from Ulu Bengoh.
The dam, with a reservoir area of 10.21 sq km, is about 40km south of Kuching.-- BERNAMA
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