Monsoon misery: Resident Salehah Mat Daud, 66, using a boat to get around her home that is submerged in the floods in Kampung Padang Licin, Rantau Panjang. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: As flood season is well into its first month, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has taken steps to prepare its hydroelectric dams in Cameron Highlands, Sungai Perak and Tasik Kenyir to deal with the increased rainfall.
TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) managing director Muhamad Nazri Pazil said the utility has prepared its dams to hold the extra rain water that is expected during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, the number of people displaced by floods continued to rise in Kelantan with over 2,600 individuals now seeking shelter at relief centres in Kota Baru, Pasir Mas, Bachok and Tanah Merah.
According to the Social Welfare Department’s Info Bencana portal, there are now 2,632 victims from 799 families as at 8am yesterday, compared to 1,741 people from 556 families on Dec 2.
TNB Genco’s Nazri said the utility has stepped up integrity audits on the dams’ safety and structural integrity features.
“In addition to generating electricity, TNB’s hydroelectric dams also serve as flood mitigators with the capacity to hold water upriver, therefore preventing bigger disasters in downstream areas during the monsoon season,” he said in a statement to Bernama.
TNB Genco is a wholly owned subsidiary of TNB responsible for managing the utility’s electricity generation assets, including hydroelectric dams.
He said dam water levels had already been gradually reduced before the monsoon season without affecting electricity generation.
“These measures ensure that the dams function well not only as a hydropower generators but to also mitigate floods,” he said.
“Prudent and comprehensive dam maintenance supports the main principle of protecting life, property and the environment.”
TNB has also briefed stakeholders such as residents near their dams and conducted emergency simulation exercises with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and district and state disaster management committees.
In Kelantan, 14 relief centres have been opened in Kota Baru, Pasir Mas, Bachok and Tanah Merah. Pasir Mas district has the highest number of shelters at 10 housing 2,370 individuals, followed by Bachok at 221, Tanah Merah 22, and Kota Baru 19.
Meanwhile, the Public InfoBanjir portal reported that three river monitoring stations in Kelantan have gone past the alert level, with Sungai Golok in Pasir Mas at 17.26m, Sungai Golok in Tumpat (2.22m) and Sungai Semerak in Pasir Puteh (2.12m).
