TASEK GELUGOR: The Federal Government through the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) approved an allocation of RM9.5 million for development projects to tackle pollution of water supply in rice fields in Pokok Tampang irrigated areas and Sungai Jarak, here.

Penang Federal Action Council (MTPNPP) chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the project would overcome problems of water resources from the Kreh River that has been contaminated by pig faeces from Kampung Selamat, near here and benefit 89 farmers in the area.

“Implementation of the project will upgrade and improve irrigation and drainage systems and construction of a pump house at the main canal of Sungai Jarak, which will enable water from the Sungai Kreh to be pumped and flow into another river without going through Sungai Jarak.

“Water from Sungai Jarak will be channeled into drainage ditches along the 2.4 kilometres built directly to the 208.79 hectares of paddy fields there,” he told reporters after visiting the project site in Sungai Jarak, here today.

He said the project involving three phases was expected to begin next month and completed by two to three years. — Bernama