Drought: Perak Seeks To Carry Out Cloud-seeding Operation

IPOH, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) has applied for cloud-seeding operations to be carried out in the Bukit Merah Dam catchment area and the upper reaches of the Sungai Perak basin as a mitigation measure to ensure the sustainable management of the state's water resources.

State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the official application has been submitted to the Perak State Secretary's Office following the prolonged dry season.

"The INTAP (Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee) Office is aware of the situation and fully supports JPS’ application for the operation to be promptly carried out in the catchment area, especially around Tasik Temengor and the Bukit Merah Dam, as strategic mitigation measures to increase the chances of rainfall,” he said.

He added that continued monitoring with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) found that the water level at Tasik Temengor is low due to limited natural water inflow from the catchment areas and the reduced rainfall in the last few months.

"This situation has had a chain effect on the downstream dams, such as Tasik Bersia, Tasik Kenering and Tasik Chenderoh, which are now at the minimum operating level by TNB,” he said.

He said this has also directly affected the socio-economic activities of local communities who rely on the Sungai Perak water source, and worsened eco-tourism activities in the Tasik Temengor and Tasik Raban areas due to low water levels.

"Another effect is the medium-term risk to the security of water and energy supplies, including supporting the Janamanjung power generating station, which contributes about 25 per cent of Peninsular Malaysia's energy needs,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Tasik Bukit Merah water level is currently at 6.416 metres (m), with the remaining water storage of around 10.837 million cubic metres, equivalent to 19.89 per cent, which is at the critical irrigation level 2.

"Following that, water supply operations for the purpose of irrigating rice fields in the Kerian Irrigation Plan have been carried out on a rationed basis, while domestic water supply to public users remains as per existing demand

"Monitoring records show that the Bukit Merah Dam water level started dropping from Dec 25, 2025, which is at the irrigation alert level of 7.62m, and subsequently reached the critical level of 7.01m on Jan 12, 2026 

Mohammad Nizar said that, based on the standard operating procedure for drought and dry season disaster activation in Perak, operational activation is considered when dam storage and river flow rates exceed alert levels for three consecutive weeks.

"To reduce the effect of the dry season, interior preventive measures have been and are being implemented, including rationing irrigation supplies according to compartments and using mobile pumps at several affected locations with the cooperation of the JPS and the Kerian Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA).

-- BERNAMA