Losing sleep over dams

Friday, 20 Jan 2017


PENANG water authorities are on alert mode but all they can do is twiddle their thumbs.
The state’s two major dams – Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam – are filled almost to capacity but their concern is Kedah.
Two of Kedah’s biggest dams – Beris and Muda dams – supply Penang raw water and the water levels of the two dams have created anxiety in Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP).
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said cloud seeding must be initiated and intensified in Kedah to prevent a potential water crisis in the northern states.
“PBAPP is concerned with the status of the Kedah dams that release water into Sungai Muda during drought seasons for water supply and irrigation extraction in South Kedah and Penang.
“More than 80% of Penang’s raw water is extracted from the river (Sungai Muda) daily, and it is a raw water resource Penang shares with Kedah,” Jaseni said.
“Preventive action must be initiated now and cloud seeding can maximise the effective capacities of the Beris and Muda dams.
“These dams must be able to support sufficient raw water levels at Sungai Muda during the dry season ahead.
“The dry season usually begins in the first quarter of the year,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He said the Beris and Muda dams were at 71.1% and 56% capacity as of Wednesday.
Jaseni also urged the Kedah government and Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) to manage the release of water from the dams into Sungai Muda prudently.
“Kedah must not release too much water too soon and cause the dams to run out of water before the rains arrive in April or May.
“Kedah and Penang must avoid the 2016 scenario when the capacities of Beris Dam and Muda Dam fell to the critical levels of 24.9% on May 7, 2016, and 14.2% on Aug 2 2016, respectively,” he said.
Jaseni said the two major dams in Penang – Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam – were at 98.1% and 100% capacity as of Wednesday.
He said in line with the state’s ‘No Water Rationing’ policy, PBAPP assured the 575,747 registered water consumers from Penang that the corporation had done its best to put the state on a strong footing to face the projected dry season this year.
Meanwhile, Kedah’s Water Resources Committee chairman Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim said he was right on top of the situation.
“We have a meeting next week with all the state’s dam and agricultural authorities. The problem is not severe now but we agree we must deal with it early.
“After getting the current situation on the padi irrigation and advice from the Meteorological Department, we will decide whether to plan for cloud seeding.”
Badrol Hisham said a cloud seeding exercise over the dams ran into the millions of ringgit last year and it would take a Federal allocation if Kedah were to do it again.
“The water level of Beris Dam for domestic usage and Muda Dam is still sustainable and at a comfortable level for now,” he added.



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