KUCHING: The temporary hawker stalls along Jalan Entingan and Taman Samarindah in Samarahan will move to a new permanent site in Taman Samarindah beginning Oct 1 to make way for the Rural Water Supply (BALB) project.
A total of 122 lots will be made available to them. The new site is located near the new Everise which will open on Aug 25. The new premises are provided rent-free for the first three months. There will be an opening ceremony once the move is complete.
Hawkers were also reminded to preserve the cleanliness and quality of their new premises and their goods. They were also advised not to ply their wares by the roadside because of the danger involved and the traffic congestion it can cause.
In her speech during the dialogue between relevant agencies and the 80 affected hawkers, Samarahan Resident Rodziah Morshidi said that the BALB project and building of the Entingan Water Tank will span the entire area where the stalls are currently located. The agencies present included Public Works Department (JKR), Land and Survey Department and the District Health Office.
The hawkers were briefed about the project by JKR Samarahan acting chief engineer Margaret Lim, and about the relocation plan by Samarahan district council secretary Simon Wong.
The project, which cost RM10.8 million, involves building a nine (9) million litre water tank, an access road, reinforcing wall, guardhouse, fence and 1.5 km pipelaying work that will benefit the 29,239 residents in Muara Tuang, Asajaya (Tambirat to Asajaya) and the Kampung Lubok Punggur area.
The water tank will also be able to supply water to Asajaya residents for at least 72 hours (three days) in the event supply from Kuching Water Board or Batu Kitang Treatment Plant is disrupted.
The tank will also give Muara Tuang residents a more consistent water supply.