Deforestation and pollution also cause of water crisis

The state authorities are sending the wrong signal by insisting all is well in Johor despite the drop in water levels. – Filepic

JOHOR BARU: It is easy to blame the El Nino phenomenon for the drop in water levels in several dams and rivers in Johor but we need to study other causes too.

“We are also to blame for cutting down trees indiscriminately.

“Deforestation in the catchment areas is the chief cause of falling water levels at dams statewide,” said Malaysian Nature Society Johor branch chairman Vincent Chow.

He said that the state authorities are sending the wrong signal by insisting that all is well in Johor despite the drop in water levels.

Newspapers reports quoted Johor water regulatory body director Mohd Riduan Md Ali saying there are no plans yet to implement rationing in the state despite the drop in water levels in dams.

Syarikat Air Johor Holdings Sdn Bhd general manager for production and distribution Elias Ismail said there was sufficient water supply for everyone during the current hot spell.

Chow said many of the rivers in Johor are polluted too.

He said among the rivers which needed immediate attention were those in Kluang namely Sungai Mengkibol, Sungai Kahang, Sungai Sembrong Kiri and Sungai Semrong Kecil as well as Sungai Johor in Kota Tinggi.

Green Earth Society Johor president P. Sivakumar said Johor should study catchment areas which have turned “bald” due to human activities.

“All is not well in Johor when it comes to water supply and long-term water management policies,’’ he said, adding the lack of enforcement was the reason why illegal logging and large scale agricultural activities including from oil palm plantations are taking place inside water catchment areas or close to dams.

He said Malaysia should emulate Singapore and start looking at new water resources like rainwater harvesting and treated used water.