Johor folk hope cloud seeding will end water rationing

NUSAJAYA: While the people in other states are hoping for rain facing the haze to get rid of the haze, those in Johor are hoping cloud-seeding operations will bring an end to water rationing.

Cloud-seeding operations in the airspace over Sungai Layang dam are expected to be conducted within two weeks of the water rationing period being lifted on Sept 15.

Johor Works, Regional and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said that although it rained the last few days, the water level in the dam was still low.

“With the help and cooperation of the Singapore Consulate-General office in Johor Baru, we need not wait for an official reply and need only notify the date and method of the operation to be executed,” he told reporters yesterday.

Earlier, he attended the Green Technology and Climate Change Council meeting chaired by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Hasni said the matter was being handled by the Johor Meteorological Department and no longer at the federal level.

The water level at the Sungai Layang dam has dropped to 18.99m below the normal 26.6m and the rationing would only be lifted if it climbs above 23.5m, he said.

“Due to climate change, we only receive 50% of rainfall at present,” he said, adding that Johor received an annual average rainfall of 2,500mm.

In the long term, he said the state government would receive raw water supply of at least 30 million litres daily for public consumption once the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) in Pengerang starts operation.

There were also plans to pump raw water from Sungai Johor, said Hasni. — Bernama