The Selangor state government today tabled a RM114 million supplementary supply bill to meet the rising cost of its public free water programme, among other things.

NONE Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim (PKR-Ijok) said the extra funds sought include RM61.6 million to foot the bill from September to December this year for free water supplied state-wide and free water coupons for families in highrise dwellings that use bulk water meters.

The extra funds for free water are included under the request for general expenditure, totalling RM81,130,760.

Another big ticket item in this supplementary supply bill, the government's second this year, is RM20.028 million in additional funds to run the offices of the menteri besar and state secretary.

The bill also seeks RM10 million to replace aged vehicles that are still in use by the state's Public Works Department.

The first time the state government sought extra funds this year was in April, when it tabled a supplementary supply bill seeking RM49.30 million.

Khalid said this would be the last time the state would seek extra funds for the free water scheme, as it expects to conclude negotiations with the federal government on plans to restructure the state's water industry by November this year.

Winding up points raised during the debate, the menteri besar said he had written to Green Technology, Energy and Water Minister Peter Chin to inform him that the state has set up a high-level committee, led by state secretary Mohd Khusrin Munawi, to finalise the terms of the plan with the federal government.

"I hope this time we can settle (the negotiations) as soon as possible. We don't expect it to drag past November this year," he said, adding that he included details of the state's water assets, worth RM12.3 billion, in his letter to Chin.

'Revamp of free water scheme needed'

Chief whip Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) urged the state government to look at more immediate measures to deflate the rising cost of sustaining the free water scheme.

While maintaining that the state government was still able to sustain the bill for the free water scheme - which would exceed RM200 million this year - Azmin stressed that it could not just sit and wait for the federal government to commit to the restructuring plan.

NONE However, he was confident that the state would be able to come up with a more affordable price structure once the plan was finalised.

But until then, it would be up to the state itself to find other solutions to reduce its expenditure on the free water scheme, Azmin ( left ) said.

"We need to increase awareness about water conservation, because a lot of treated water is used for non-essential things, such as washing cars or watering plants.

"I also suggested that we take a leaf from the UN Water Convention and focus our free water scheme on the poor and low-income group.

"It doesn't make sense to give RM11.50 (in monthly savings) to people like the menteri besar," he added.

Under the state's 2011 Budget, a total of RM150 million was set aside to pay for Selangor's free water scheme - which was an election promise made by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition prior to winning the state in March 2008.

The supplementary supply bill will be tabled for its second reading tomorrow.