‘Do cloud seeding now’
… or four million people will suffer (smaller point)
Story by Chan Lilian and Victor Seow
FOUR million people in Penang, Kedah, Perlis and northern Perak may suffer a water crisis and serious drought if Putrajaya does not take immediate action to carry out cloud seeding.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged the federal government to quickly carry out cloud seeding while there are clouds.
In a press conference in Komtar on April 14, Lim pointed out that Penang island has enough water to last two months but the mainland will face a water shortage in a month’s time.
The seriousness of the situation was further elaborated on by Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa on April 18. “The federal government should act now to prevent a foreseeable crisis. Insofar as PBAPP is concerned, we are facing a clear and impending threat of widespread water shortages in Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak,” Jaseni said.
He was responding to a news report in a local English daily on April 17 where Kedah exco member Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim was quoted as saying that the total capacity of five dams in Kedah was still sufficient to supply water for domestic and agriculture use.
Based on evidence they have, Jaseni disagreed.
He raised three key questions:
1. Based on present reserves, how many days can the Muda Dam and the Beris Dam continue to release water into Sungai Muda for water supply and irrigation purposes?
2. What is the definition of “critical stage” vis-à-vis the Beris Dam?
3. What are Kedah’s contingency plans if or when the levels of Muda Dam and the Beris Dam fall below the “minimum levels”?
“We must not wait for a crisis to happen, and then implement water rationing. The federal government must act now to avoid water rationing.
“We must avoid what has happened in some parts of Perlis and Johor where rationing has been announced,” Jaseni added.
Penang has a “No–Water Rationing” policy and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had repeatedly reminded PBAPP that the rakyat must not be inconvenienced by water cuts.
It was for this reason that on April 15 PBAPP proposed four urgent measures to be undertaken immediately:
1. Initiate large-scale cloud-seeding in the northern region. Without rainfall, there is no way to replenish diminishing dam reserves.
2. Postpone irrigation activities, if any, in the northern states to sustain sufficient raw water for water supply. We have no choice but to prioritise the interests of four million people above padi farming until there is sufficient rainfall for planting.
If rationing occurs, it will cause much hardship for millions of people and bring all commercial activities in the northern region to a standstill.
3. Minimise draw down of reserves from all dams to prolong effective capacities to outlast ‘Super El Niño’. PBAPP has been implementing such dry water controls since January 2016.
4. Acknowledge the threat now and persuade water consumers to use less water. Public participation in water conservation will help to prolong the available dam reserves until the rains arrive.
Acknowledge the threat now and persuade water consumers to use less water. Public participation in water conservation will help to prolong the available dam reserves until the rains arrive.
Jaseni assured that the dams on Penang island have sufficient water for two more months.
However, the Super El Nino has caused a drastic change in the rainfall pattern in Penang.
“However, if the waters of Sungai Muda were to drop below the critical level of 1.50 metres, there is no way for Penang and PBAPP to make up for an 80% shortfall in raw water extraction,” he said.
In spite of the bleak situation, Lim has these positive words for Penangites.
“Penangites are tough people. When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” he said at an event on April 18.
However, he reminded the people to save water and urged the federal government to commence cloud seeding immediately.