The Papar district Water Department has refuted claims of clean water being sold from water depots in the drought-hit district. In a statement on Tuesday (March 26), Papar disaster management committee chairman Mohd Fuad Abdullah stated that investigations revealed the water being sold originated from river sources or gravity water from specific villages, available for purchase by the public based on tank size and buyer’s location.
Mohd Fuad encouraged individuals facing drought emergencies due to the El Nino phenomenon to contact the disaster operation control center at the Papar district secretariat building or call 088-914999, as it operates round the clock. He mentioned that clean water supplies were delivered to 22 localities on Tuesday as per a predetermined schedule.
As of Tuesday, approximately 44 villages, 37 schools, 19 residential areas, and eight religious establishments in Papar, affecting a total of 150,000 individuals, were impacted by the ongoing drought. The clean water supply operation involved 32 assets and logistics from various agencies and departments.
The district Fire and Rescue Department received three bushfire reports on Tuesday, while the Papar drought disaster media center received four open fire reports on Monday. These incidents affected air quality, potentially impacting civilian health and complicating water usage, particularly during the drought period.
On a positive note, the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) society participated in processing clean water from Sungai Mandalipau, producing 1,400 liters of clean water on Tuesday using the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) method. The MRC transported the water to affected residents using a 5-tonne Hino lorry.
Mohd Fuad mentioned that the Papar district disaster management committee was the second in the country to benefit from the WASH technique after Johor in March last year during a water crisis caused by floods. The collaborative efforts of various agencies and organizations are crucial in addressing the significant challenges posed by the drought in Papar.
