Construction of RM2 billion Papar dam to begin next year

By Olivia Miwil - March 24, 2019 @ 12:22pm

Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony said ‘The project, which is at the surveying and designing stage, will take about six months to complete and hopefully, we can start it next year,’ after flagging-off the Water World Day Run at the Penampang Stadium here, today.NSTP/KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN.

PENAMPANG: Construction of the RM2 billion Papar dam will kick-off next year, said Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony.

“The ministry has identified the area and rivers (for the dam).

“As for now, we are waiting reports from the Department of Environment as well as other relevant agencies.

“The project, which is at the surveying and designing stage, will take about six months to complete and hopefully, we can start it next year,” he said after flagging-off the Water World Day Run at the Penampang Stadium here, today.

Last week, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal urged the ministry to speed up construction of the Papar and Ulu Padas dams in Tenom to ensure that the state has sufficient water supply.

Peter said that the Papar dam is crucial to help cope with increasing demand for water by a growing population here, as well as in Papar and Kota Kinabalu.

This is despite the existence of the Babagon dam and treatment plant in Tuaran, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ulu Padas dam project, which is also expected to begin soon, is expected to supply water to the interiors of Sabah as well as Sipitang and Beaufort.

“Although the annual rainfall in the state is high, it is inconsistent and there will be months when there is no precipitation.

“The state government is thinking of constructing water storage facilities in every district with water reserves enough for between three to four months,” he added.

Peter also said that the state has considered projects involving desalinisation technology, but they are quite costly.

Meanwhile, on current water supply in the state amidst the ongoing heatwave and dry spell, he said six plants in Tawau and Semporna are now at the critical level due to dams drying-up up from lack of rain.

“The ministry is monitoring the situations and will send water supply if there are shortages. If the situation continues, we will consider cloud seeding,” Peter added.