Village still depending on wells for their daily needs

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SENTUL is now a booming area with posh condominiums, schools and fast food outlets aplenty but nestled a few hundred metres from the hustle and bustle of the main road lies a century-old village with a sad story to tell.

More than three generations have lived in the old wooden houses of Kampung Sekma, which is home to Chinese and Indians.

The land belongs to an unknown individual and there are about 200 houses in the village. On the surface, it looks like any other urban village but listen closely to the conversations of the residents and one will hear the word ‘well’ used often.

Going deep: When the electricity fails, the villagers have to resort to drawing the water by hand.

First timers would be shocked to learn that the village, which is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is still reliant on wells as a source of water.

Most houses have two or three wells that are filled by the rain while other houses share wells that are hidden in the bushes.

Several years ago, the villagers were forced to carry buckets of water from the wells but they recently installed a pump to draw the water from the wells to their homes.

However, the villagers’ troubles are far from over.

“Since we installed the pump, it has been easier for us but if there is no electricity then there is no water and we have to resort to drawing the water by hand once again,” V. Nithiyananthan, 41, said.

The water from the wells is only used for washing and the residents travel more than 500 metres to buy fresh, potable water from nearby vending machines.

Dark at night: Even though there is electricity in the village, there are only a few streetlights.

The wells are not well-maintained and the water is murky and filled with algae making it difficult for it to be used for any other purpose.

Nithiyananthan’s sister, V. Yogeswary, 44, who cares for her nieces and nephews, said the children had been admitted to the hospital in the past for food poisoning.

“When it rains, the water is stirred up and this affects the children. My brother’s two-year-old child was admitted to hospital because of this,” she added.

According to her, the doctor treating the children confirmed the cause of the illness was the unhygienic well water.

She added after the incident, they began buying water from the nearby grocery shops. They also boil large pots of water and keep them for a rainy day or a cut in electricity supply.

Cleaning up: Nithiyananthan, 41 using well water to wash his face after a long day’s work

The villages spend about RM5 each day buying water which amounts to RM1,800 a year, which leaves a big dent in their pockets.

Resident Tan Tow See, 70, who has lived in the village since she was born, said it was difficult for her to draw water from the well.

“I’m too old for this. My knees are giving way so it is difficult for me to bend and draw water. I have given up hope on the government,” she said.

According to the residents, they did not have electricity for many years but, in 1982, their pleas were finally heard.

“Once in five years we have visitors. The candidates for the Batu seat come and promise many things but three political parties have come and gone and we still do not have piped in water,” Ng Ho Huat, 62, said.

Ng said even the roads in the village had not been maintained in the 10 years since they were made.

Only for washing: Yogeswary said the water from the wells was used for domestic purposes only.

To make matters worse, the villagers do not have a proper irrigation system and sewerage maintenance, which in turn causes more pollution to the wells.

The drains, which are shallow depressions on the ground, are filled with filth and rubbish.

Even though each house is has electricity supply, there are not many street lights in the area causing difficulty for the villagers.

“We are just a stone’s throw away from the main road but here we are living in prehistoric times,” Nithiyananthan said.

He added their requests were simple. All they want is the basic necessities a human being should have access to.

“All we want is clean water, a basic necessity for human life,” he said.