SHAH ALAM: THE Selangor government is mulling over giving rebates for the recurrence of water disruption in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, however, said the state government was more inclined to prevent the recurrence of water pollution.
"We are discussing the matter (of giving rebates) and that would be decided later.
"It is better to spend more to prevent the recurrence of water pollution than leaving the matter to fate, and giving rebates whenever pollution occurs," he said yesterday after chairing the state-level National Security Council meeting.
Amirudin was responding to a question on calls by certain quarters and some affected consumers for discounts on water bills due to the water disruptions.
Amirudin said giving rebates did not commensurate with the hardship experienced by affected consumers due to the water cut.
"Therefore, we (the state government) are trying our best to prevent the recurrence of water pollution.
"(And) based on the track record, we managed to prevent it from happening from April to September this year with our 24-hour monitoring.
"But lately it has happened too often. Hence, we will add more officers and beef up monitoring."
Amirudin said RM4million was needed should a rebate of RM2 each is given to the accounts of affected consumers.
"The amount (RM4 million) should be used to add more officers who can detect pollution at the early stage or before it enters the treatment plants," he said.
On Monday, Syarikat Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) had to shut down its Sungai Selangor Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants after their water sources were polluted.
The disruption in water supply affected 1,196,457 account holders in 1,292 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.
On Sept 3, 1.2 million consumers in 1,292 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat experienced water supply disruption due to raw water pollution in Sungai Selangor.