The allocation was also aimed at increasing the treated water supply reserves nationwide to 20 per cent.
According to the Economic Report 2013/2014 released by the finance ministry here today, RM514.5 million was spent for the implementation of various water supply projects nationwide.
On the other hand the Government also continued to focus on rural development by allocating a sum of RM4.1 billion to improve basic infrastructure and amenities.
Of this amount, RM979.6 million was provided for the construction, refurbishment and upgrading of rural road networks nationwide and as of July 2014, RM585.9 million had been spent for building and maintenance of 196.6km of rural roads as of July 2014.
According to the report, a sum of RM467 million was allocated for the provision of potable water to 8,000 houses in rural areas nationwide and as of July 2014, RM171.7 million was spent.
It said that in Sarawak, 30,000 water tanks were distributed to identified rural areas, involving an allocation of RM75 million.
An allocation of RM862.7 million was also given to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak, Orang Asli settlements in Peninsular Malaysia as well as estates and villages on islands.
“As of July 2014, 48 electricity supply projects are at various stages of implementation involving RM405.5 million, of which six projects were completed, benefiting 4,180 houses,” it said.
The Government has also allocated RM40 million for land surveying and ownership verification to overcome difficulties faced by the Bumiputera minority in Sabah and Sarawak over the ownership of customary land.
Meanwhile, a sum of RM5.4 billion was allocated for upgrading the Kuala Lipis Hospital in Pahang and Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the construction of additional blocks at the Jeli Hospital in Kelantan and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
An allocation of RM15.6 million was also provided for the establishment of an additional 50 units of 1Malaysia Clinics in 2014 which are at various stages of completion and are expected to benefit 1.5 million people.
— BERNAMA
