A PKR lawmaker has blasted Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah for the state's water shortage woes, saying the promise of a new treatment plant by year-end was unconvincing.

"Although last month, the MB announced Syarikat Air Darul Aman's (Sada) plant in Jabi would be completed by November, for me it has no traction as long as there is no written black and white statement in the state assembly to reassure the people," PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said.

"The people of Kedah are fed up with water shortages that have been plaguing them all this time. What is of concern is that the treatment plant will be another 'white elephant', as what has happened to the failed incinerator project in Langkawi that had cost RM70 million," Johari said in a statement.

Last year Bashah riled the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) after snubbing CAP's suggestions and complaints about depleting water catchment areas due to deforestation.

"We're the state government, we know how to do our job. No need to teach us what to do," the Kedah menteri besar was reported as saying.

Johari said the state government has a responsibility to take care of the people's welfare and prepare temporary solutions in the short term while the treatment plant is being built.

"For the long term, Sada and the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water needs to prepare a project paper on the state's water development plan for the next 10 years.

"This document should be made public," said the MP.

Johari added that a special committee should be set up to listen to the views of stakeholders, such as NGOs, members of the public and experts, as well as a bigger budget allocation to developing water resources in order to solve the long-standing problem.