Selangor carrying out cloud seeding to increase water levels at dams

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will consider increasing cloud seeding operations if necessary due to the dry spell, said Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (pic).   

The Selangor Mentri Besar said the state has been carrying out cloud seeding operations twice daily since last year to increase water levels at dams. 

''We are concerned with the water levels of some of our reservoirs.  

''We have decided to increase our flights for cloud seeding if the need arises,” he said after visiting the low cost flats at Seksyen 28 here Sunday.  

‎Azmin said RM5mil has been spent on cloud seeding since last year and the operations have yielded results in increasing water levels at the dams.  

''Certainly we will need to do more if we want more rain in Selangor.  

''In fact, we just had a special meeting last week after several dams were reported to be at low levels, and measures have been taken to address the problem," he added.

Azmin said these include the construction of the Hybrid Off River Augmentation System (Horas) that can supply up to 600 million litres of water per day‎. 

He said the water retention ponds in Bestari Jaya also enables water to be pumped into rivers in Selangor when necessary. 

On another matter, Azmin said a total of 1,000 new and sturdier rubbish bins would be provided at all low cost flats around Selangor, especially dengue hotspots, for better waste disposal to curb the dengue menace. 

''The old and damaged bins caused rubbish to overflow and clogged the drains nearby, and they eventually become breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquitoes," he added.