Chief Minister Patinggi Abang Johari Openg said for a start, the state government had appointed a consultant to study the feasibility of channelling water to the Tanjung Manis area from the Batang Ai Dam under the first phase of the project.

The project would be implemented in stages as it involved a large expenditure and was expected to be completed in two years.

He spoke to reporters after opening the annual delegates meeting of Zone 4 Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) at Dewan Kompleks Islam, Bangunan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Muazam Shah, here today.

Abang Johari, who is also PBB president, said water from the four major dams in Sarawak, namely, Batang Ai, Bakun, Murum and, soon, Baleh, would be used to channel clean water to the interior residents.

The water from the dams would also be used for agricultural purposes, he added.