PBAPP under fire for delay in restoring water supply

 

Penang water supply workers completing repairs on a burst pipeline in Seberang Perai Utara today. (PBAPP pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy has questioned why water supplies in parts of Seberang Perai have yet to be restored, following temporary disruptions to allow for a major pipeline to be replaced.

The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said yesterday that supply would resume by noon today, but Ramasamy said that as of 4pm there was still no running water in many places.

He urged PBAPP and the state government to take the matter seriously. 

There’s no clear indication of when the water supply will be restored. I suspect it may take longer than initially anticipated,

 he said.

When contacted, a PBAPP spokesman simply said many areas in Seberang Perai already had water supply restored, and that some locations that were near the end of the pipeline and on higher ground will have their supply restored later.

The corporation said in a Facebook posting that repair work on a burst pipeline was completed at 3.15pm today.

Ramasamy said consumers have been waiting for more than 40 hours and reserve water tanks in some households had run dry. 

It’s unreasonable for consumers to keep waiting indefinitely.

He urged PBAPP to consider waiving the October water bills for affected consumers.

Some 118,093 account holders were affected by the water cut from 10pm on Friday, with supply supposed to resume by 10pm yesterday. However, this was amended to 12pm today after a leak was detected at a section of the pipeline. - FMT