In less than a week, water consumption in Kelantan will increase following the return of out-of-state Kelantanese to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in their respective villages on April 10.
The situation can have a bad effect on the service and quality of water supply during the festive period due to demand exceeding the capacity and ability that can be offered by the service operator.
Either way, it is estimated that more than 100,000 Kelantanese living out of the state will return home which has become a routine every festival season.
Looking at the number, coupled with the existing population and the situation will definitely put pressure on the state government in solving the problem.
Adding to the pressure, the hot weather and drought which are the effects of the El Nino phenomenon are causing the Kelantan River’s water level to shrink.
Disruption of the water supply is not a new thing, it has become a 'thorn in the flesh' for all the people of Kelantan when this issue has been going on for more than 20 years.
The water problem in Kelantan seems like it can no longer be discussed when the younger ones working outside of the state 'threaten' not to return to the village to celebrate festivities if the issue continues.
Warisan Anak Krai Chairman Hamidi Hamzah said that they had lost patience after receiving 'threats' from children who refused to return to celebrate in Kampung Kemubu, Kuala Krai if the water problem in the area was not resolved.
In addition, the resident of Kampung Kemubu, Kuala Krai, Aziz Ibrahim also revealed that during the recent Chinese New Year holiday, his children and grandchildren had to 'run' to other locations due to water problems.
The return that should have been a joy turned into sad news and the arrival of Syawal soon must have made Aziz dizzy thinking about trying to solve the water problem before welcoming the return of his children and grandchildren.
The state government through the Kelantan Public Works, Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Exco, Datuk Dr Izani Husin asserted that the water problem that plagued the state more than 20 years ago will be fully resolved in three years, by 2027.
This is because all the upgraded and built plants will be fully completed that year.
The situation saw that Kelantan will have an excess of water supply in 2028 thus being able to solve the problem that has been going on for more than 20 years.
Despite that confidence, Kelantan Umno advised the state government not to deceive the people by promising that the water issue would be resolved in three years.
Its chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said the promise is as good as 'candy' because 2027 is the year of the 16th General Election (GE16).
Looking at the confidence expressed by state government leaders saying that the water problem will be solved by 2027, this writer hopes that the same thing will happen.
This is because the people are fed up with the various reasons given by the state government every time there is a water supply disruption.
The people of Kelantan want a thorough solution to this issue and not an excuse to cover up weaknesses.
Remember, water is a basic need for the population, although the state government thinks the people of Kelantan are good at self-reliance by digging wells to get resources, but they cannot let go of the issue.