PETALING JAYA: The Sewerage Services Department (JPP) will take stringent measures in response to delays in the RM393 million Package D44 Project for Sewerage Pipe Network Construction in Bunus.
Expressing concern, the Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad emphasised the contractor's failure to meet the November 2023 deadline, prompting the need for immediate intervention.
He said the department will be taking decisive action against the responsible contractors.
"There are ongoing issues with the company, and JPP is actively pursuing prompt measures.
"Our goal is to ensure the timely completion of critical projects. For further updates, direct inquiries can be made to JPP," he told reporters when met at launch of Forest One at One Utama today.
On 18 July, the ministry said the completion of the RM393 million Package D44 Project for the Sewerage Pipe Network Construction in Bunus here, which has been delayed for some time, will be speed up.
Nik Nazmi said the goal is to enable this project to be completed by November 2023 because it has been delayed since 2014 and so far its progress has reached 92.18 per cent.
The project is part of the River of Life Greater KL initiative to improve the quality of water in the river with the focus on sewage pollution control in the Bunus drainage catchment area.
The project scope covers the design and construction of a 55km sewerage pipe network, the upgrade of two main pumping stations KLR 289 and KLR 030, and also the upgrade of eight plant units to pump stations to complete the sewerage pipe network system.
The project was delayed due to several factors such as overlapping work areas with third parties, the Movement Control Order (MCO), unstable and rocky soils that affect work productivity as well as financial issues on the part of the contractor.
On another development, Nik Nazmi highlighted that solar installation services across the nation are currently open for tender, breaking away from exclusivity to specific companies.
He emphasised that companies with expertise in this field are encouraged to participate in offering related services.
Earlier, as outlined in the 2024 budget, the government disclosed its plans for the deployment of solar systems in Putrajaya, entrusting this initiative to government-linked companies (GLCs), namely Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), and the private company Gentari.
In response to inquiries about the proposed review of water tariffs in the country, Nik Nazmi conveyed that the matter has been presented to the Cabinet for consideration.
"We have brought this issue to the Cabinet for further action. Presently, this portfolio is under the purview of Energy Transition and Renewable Energy Minister Datuk Seri Fadhillah," he explained.
This comes after Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Izham Hashim expressed concern that the existing water tariff is insufficient in light of the substantial capital expenditure. He said there was no review of water tariffs for more than 20 years.
On Nov 9,Nik Nazmi said during Question and Answer Session at Dewan Rakyat that the state governments cross-party, agreed at the National Water Council meeting that water tariffs in the state should be reviewed and a new tariff setting mechanism established to regulate the rate of tariff increases by operating companies.