SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government has issued seven development orders (DOs) for the construction of the RM3.6 billion Langat 2 water treatment plant project in Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Selangor state executive councillor Zaidy Abdul Talib said some of the DOs have lapsed.

“The state has no problem in granting DOs to the contractors as long as they meet all the criteria set by the state government,” he told pressmen at the Selangor legislative assembly yesterday. Zaidy is in charge of the state’s infrastructure, public amenities and agro-based industry portfolio.

He said the state should have more say in the early stages of planning for Langat 2. He cited the federal government’s earlier decision to use “excessively” high technology in the project. 

“We do not see the need of using excessively high technology in Langat 2 as it would increase the building and operational costs of the project eventually,” he added.

Zaidy also noted that the federal government has formed a steering committee to oversee the project, whose members include the Selangor menteri besar and state agencies. 

“The question is how far will the federal government listen to and agree with the views from the Selangor government in implementing this project?” he asked. 

According to Zaidy, Langat 2 is adopting a granular activated carbon system suitable for treating highly contaminated water of Grade 4 class. This will result in Selangor paying 10 sen to Pahang for every cubic metre of raw water sent to Langat 2.

“Eventually, this will translate into higher water charges, and users would have to bear the cost,” he said.

Zaidy conceded work on Langat 2 has fallen behind schedule.

He said Selangor’s stance is clear, that is for the project to be completed on time so that the rakyat can benefit from it. 

Despite the delay, the Taman Templer assemblyman hopes that Langat 2 can be completed by April 2017.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 2, 2015.