Cloud Seeding Expected To Be Conducted In Melaka This Week

JASIN, April 8 (Bernama) -- A cloud seeding operation (OPA) is expected to be carried out in Melaka this week after the state government's application to implement the operation was approved by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said efforts to implement the operation are being reviewed by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) from various aspects, including the suitability of flight times and cloud formation.

He said the operation request was made to increase rainfall distribution, especially when the dam levels in the state were showing a declining trend, in addition to METMalaysia's forecast that Melaka would experience hot weather and low rainfall distribution until September.

"The state government has submitted an application to implement OPA through NADMA, and Alhamdulillah, it has been approved. It is expected to be implemented within this week, depending on various factors, including the weather.

"If we face continuous hot and dry weather, the water supply at the Jus Dam is expected to last only until November, as well as the Durian Tunggal Dam," he said to reporters after visiting Phase Two of the Jus Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Construction Project here today.

Also present was the Melaka Public Works, Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Transportation Committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer.

Commenting further, Ab Rauf said several proactive measures had been implemented earlier to ensure the stability of the state's raw water reserves, including activating all alternative ponds and additional water storage sources throughout the state to strengthen the existing supply capacity.

He said that in addition, efforts to enhance awareness campaigns and water conservation among the community are also being undertaken as a joint step to ensure more controlled water usage.

"At the same time, we are also continuously closely monitoring the capacity of the water catchment areas that are currently affected by prolonged dry weather, and so far, the water level at the Durian Tunggal Dam has decreased by 0.5 per cent while at the Jus Dam, it has decreased by 0.3 per cent," he said.

Commenting on the expectation of water supply rationing in the state as previously circulated, he said the state government does not guarantee that there will be no water rationing because it depends on the people's attitude in ensuring that there is no water wastage.

"So if the level requires us to implement rationing, we will definitely do it so that the water supply can be controlled and used in the long term before critical levels occur," he said.

Previously, he said that the construction of Phase Two of the Jus WTP project, worth RM11.6 million, which began development by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB) on May 8 last year, is expected to be fully completed by July 7 this year.

He also said the treatment plant, which has the capacity to handle five million litres of water per day, is seen as a long-term solution to the recurring water supply disruption issue, especially in the Jus area like Kampung Bukit Senggeh and Kampung Orang Asli Jus.

The project can also reduce dependence on the Senandung B3 Tank and the Bertam WTP, thereby strengthening the state's water distribution system.

-- BERNAMA