Kampung Merakai in desperate need of clean water supply

0

SERIAN: Kampung Merakai here is in need of clean water supply as the river and streams passing through the village have been polluted by oil palm plantation activities.

Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus, who visited the village on Thursday, said more than 400 villagers from 60 families in the village, accessible via plantation road from here and Gedong, had been affected.

“They now depend solely on rainwater and dug-up wells to get water for their domestic water usage. The rivers are not safe due to pollution since the village is surrounded by oil palm plantations,” he said yesterday.

“For cooking, they use water collected in storage tanks available, but they again have to seek help from JKR (Public Works Department) or the Welfare Department to supply water by water tankers if there is a prolonged drought,” he said.

John said SK Merakai had also been affected by acute water shortage.

He pointed out that the school, which has some 50 pupils and 16 staff members, managed to contribute top scores in the recent Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and is one of the top schools here.

“I have already highlighted this matter at the DUN (State Legislative Assembly) twice, and I hope the relevant ministry and authorities would look into this problem.

“The village folk cry for help to get the water problem fixed. Nonetheless, they are thankful to the government for providing the much-awaited electricity supply, which they expect to use before this year’s end,” he said.

John was at the village to present school items from Yayasan Sime Darby to SK Merakai pupils.