The water supply problem faced by 75,000 Felda Bukit Goh and Felda Bukit Kuantan settlers in Kuantan for the past 10 years ended when new pipes from the Semambu Water Treatment Plant to the areas began operations on Jan 4.

Paya Besar Member of Parliament Abdul Manan Ismail said the installation of the MS 400MM pipe measuring 4.6 kilometres and costing RM2 million resolved the water supply problem affecting 15,000 consumer accounts in the area.

He said the water supply problem in the two Felda areas occurred since the 1990s and the situation became worse during the festive and long holiday seasons.

"The situation was caused by the decreasing water level at Sungai Riau which supplies raw water to the Bukit Goh plant here. Lately, Sungai Riau is no longer able to supply adequate water.

"The situation worsened with the increasing number of settlers when the second generation of Felda settlers also decided to settle here," he told reporters at the Community Hall of the Bukit Goh Settlement, near Kuantan today.

Also present at the event were Sungai Lembing state assemblyperson Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah and senior manager of Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (Paip) Kuantan Abdul Aziz Mohamed Noh.

- Bernama