The federal government will consider taking legal action against the Selangor state government if the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant remains stalled as at the end of the year.

Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Peter Chin Fah

Kui said the construction of the treatment plant in Hulu Langat has already been delayed when it was supposed to have started in August.

"We should have started in August, but as I have been saying, we want to get Selangor to feel comfortable with this situation.

"But we on the other hand, we are also consulting with our legal advisors as to what other options we have," he told reporters following his ministry's Hari Raya celebration held at the Energy Commission in Putrajaya today.

Chin said this when asked on the status of the Langat 2 project which is supposed to have taken off in August.

On August 5 this year, Peter Chin had given a deadline until end of the  year for the Selangor state government to give its approval on the building of Langat 2 water treatment plant for water supply in the Klang Valley.

He said there was an urgent need to speed up its construction as it should be ready for treating raw water from Sungai Semantan, Pahang in line with the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project which will be ready in 2014.

Approval for the Langat 2 project, costing RM8.65 billion, was given by the Selangor state government when it was under the BN government.

Its development however was stalled when the present government took over the state.

The Langat 2 project is to cater to the need for clean water in three areas, namely Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya until the year 2025.

On Aug 31, Menteri Besar Selangor Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government will continue with the Langat 2 project only after discussion on the restructuring of the state water industry is completed as it was being given priority.

The state is in discussion with the water concession holders both from the private sector and government agencies.

Peter Chin said the legal action can be taken based on the powers given under the Water Services Industry Act.

However, he expressed hope that there would be no need for such an action.

He also added there were still some options available, although he did not say what they were.

"There are some options available to us. We are prepared on how to overcome this situation."

- Bernama