KOTA TINGGI, April 22 (Bernama) -- Areas surrounding the Lok Heng Water Treatment Plant (LRA) are among the locations selected for cloud seeding operations today and tomorrow, following a dry spell that has affected more than 4,000 consumers in Felda Lok Heng and Felda Waha since early this month.
Kota Tinggi Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the dates were selected as cloud formations in the area had previously been too thin and unsuitable for such operations.
“Let us all pray and seek the Almighty’s help so that this water supply disruption can be overcome,” he said in a Facebook post today.
The cloud seeding operations will also cover several other areas in the state, namely Upper Layang Dam, Machap Dam, Seluyut Dam, Lebam Dam, Linggiu Dam and the Gembut LRA.
Mohamed Khaled, who is also Defence Minister, said various mitigation efforts have been undertaken by the state government together with relevant agencies, including the use of groundwater through tube wells as well as attempts to transfer water from Sungai Lukah.
He said, however, that both methods could not be continued due to limited water sources, as well as high salinity levels in the river, which are unsuitable for treatment using the existing facilities at the LRA.
In addition, Johor’s water operator, Ranhill SAJ, has deployed a desalination unit at the Lok Heng LRA, which is expected to produce two million litres of treated water per day, to address supply disruptions following a prolonged dry spell of more than two months.
“This effort is expected to help restore and stabilise the water supply as soon as possible, while easing the difficulties faced by affected residents in the area. I understand that the implementation of the desalination plant has encountered slight delays,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
