Melaka to implement second phase of water rationing next week if needed, says CM

MELAKA (Bernama): The Melaka government will implement the second phase of water rationing sometime next week if the water supply in the state is still low, says Chief Minister Adly Zahari (pic).

He said the water supply rationing exercise was implemented from Jan 29 while the model for the second phase of the exercise would be announced later.

Adly said the total water supply at the three dams in the state remained unchanged at 33% and the implementation period and model of the rationing exercise would depend largely on weather conditions, rainfall distribution and water supply improvement initiatives.

"If there is no rainfall and the water supply is still low, we will continue to schedule (water rationing) with the new model, ” he told the media after attending the state-level Chinese New Year celebration at the Sekolah Menengah Pay Fong hall here, which was also attended by Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

On Jan 29, Melaka commenced its daily water rationing exercise involving 550,673 people or 62.8% of the population, to ensure adequate water supply following the dry spell in the second phase of the North-East Monsoon, expected to end next month.

However, the water rationing exercise does not involve hospitals, industrial areas and tourism centres.

Melaka currently has three dams - the Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah, while the Jus Dam and Asahan Dam are both located in Jasin. - Bernama