Tunnel among plans to protect dam

Dry and desolate: Ploughing equipment left unattended at a dried up padi field near Bukit Merah, Perak, as padi farmers cannot start planting due to the lack of water. (Inset) Farmer Awang Darus, 68, showing his dried up padi field.

KERIAN: A 15km tunnel linking Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam and mini reservoirs there are among plans to ensure that water level at the dam stay sustainable, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said the dam, which is one of the oldest in Malaysia, had been affected by peat soil siltation at the bottom of the lake.