PUTATAN: Upko Putatan Division Chief Jason Lee said new housing and other projects are being approved in Putatan even as the district grapples with chronic water shortages.
Residents fear that supply will fall short of demand even after the long-awaited Kogopon II treatment plant is operational.
Jason warned that runaway development is moving far faster than critical infrastructure can keep up, dumping the burden entirely on existing residents who already face days without running water.
He said the situation is most stark at Kingfisher Condominium, where all 528 households have endured prolonged supply cuts for years – and are now paying up to 570pc more for water trucked in by private suppliers.
“Residents used to pay RM1.50 per cubic metre for alternative water. Now they are being charged RM7.50 – a jump that has pushed monthly water bills alone to between RM150 and RM280,” Lee said.
The additional cost comes on top of monthly maintenance fees, with Jason calling on the management and developer to absorb part of the expense rather than passing it fully to residents.
“We were told the Kogopon II plant in Papar would resolve Putatan’s water woes. But with so many new developments sprouting up around Kingfisher and across the district, we are worried demand will outstrip supply the moment the plant starts operating,” he cautioned.
Jason stressed that no development approval should be issued until supporting infrastructure – especially reliable water capacity – is guaranteed.
“Approvals must follow infrastructure, not the other way around. If we keep building without securing supply, this crisis will never end,” he said.
He also warned that rising diesel prices will further drive up the cost of trucked water, adding another layer of hardship for communities already struggling to cope.
