SIBU: The Sibu Water Board (SWB) has no qualms accepting local council’s suggestion not to connect water to houses which do not have occupational permits (OPs).
A source from SWB said that the existing requirement only calls for the issuance of safe water certification to ensure that the water is safe for consumption.
“There is no such requirement presently for OP to be issued before water supply can be connected to the houses. But if there is a new requirement from the local authority, we are most willing to accommodate.
“We will follow the new requirement as one of the areas that we need to check before providing water supply if the Sibu Minicipal Council (SMC) provides the guidelines.
“We are working together for the good of the community,” the source said when asked to respond to SMC’s call to Sesco and SWB not to connect electricity and water to houses that had no OP yet.
The source added that existing requirement merely required applicants to furnish their sale and purchase (S&P) agreements to show that the houses belonged to them.
However, before water is supplied to the houses, stringent measures needed to be observed. This includes ensuring that all works had been completed, pressure test carried out, flushing and chlorination.
Water would be connected within three working days after payment of the water bill.
Meanwhile, SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said they had by-laws that stipulated that occupation of houses was not permitted without an OP.
“This means that we can evict them if they move in before the OP is issued. But on compassionate ground, we don’t do it unless there is obvious presence of hazards.”
He pointed out that some people, upon completion of the houses, were eager to move in despite having no OP.
Ngieng hoped that OP would not be turned into an issue.
“It is not like a life and dead situation”.
Asked for reasons for non issuance of OPs, he said this stemmed from failure of infrastructure such as drainage or road not constructed according to specifications.
“Hence, it is most important for consultants, developers, contractors and related bodies to ensure everything start on the right footing from the planning stage.”