By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 3: Sarawak’s third cloud-seeding operation this year began today, targeting three hydropower dams and 13 water catchment areas across five divisions in an effort to increase water levels and help alleviate the haze situation.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the operation, which began today and is scheduled to continue until Sept 5, would focus initially on Batang Ai before moving on to Murum and Bakun.
Speaking to reporters after witnessing preparations for the operation at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base here today, Uggah said the aircraft would assess cloud and weather conditions in the targeted areas before carrying out the seeding.
“The operation will continue tomorrow, subject to the cloud conditions. We hope it can continue until Sept 5,” he said in a pre-recorded press conference.
The targeted water resources are located across the divisions of Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Kapit and Limbang.
Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, said the primary objective was to increase water accumulation in the dams and water catchment areas amid the prolonged hot and dry spell affecting the State.
“At the same time, we hope it can help reduce the haze affecting Sarawak. If it rains, the haze could be reduced,” he said.
On reports by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability that cloud formations currently detected over Sarawak were unsuitable for cloud-seeding operations, with prevailing winds potentially carrying the clouds towards the South China Sea and rendering the operation ineffective, Uggah said the State government remained optimistic.
“We must have an optimistic attitude and pray that more suitable cloud formations develop to help the people of Sarawak who are currently facing the haze problem.
“This is the spirit of the GPS government. We will do everything within our means to find ways to resolve this problem,” he said.
He informed that previous cloud-seeding operations conducted in May and June had produced noticeable effects at the Murum and Bakun dams, where water levels subsequently increased, although the impact at Batang Ai was less significant.
“That is why they are looking for suitable clouds in order to generate rainfall over the targeted areas,” he said.
Uggah said the operation involved coordinated efforts by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, Sarawak Energy, Sarawak Water, RMAF, Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysia Police, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit.
Each cloud-seeding flight uses four tanks of saline solution, with each tank containing 200kg of salt dissolved in 1,500 litres of water.
Once meteorological conditions meet the required criteria, RMAF aircraft will fly at altitudes of between 5,000 and 7,000 feet to release the seeding agent into suitable clouds.
Cloud development and rainfall will then be continuously monitored to assess atmospheric conditions and the effectiveness of the operation.
Uggah stressed that cloud seeding could only be conducted when suitable atmospheric conditions existed, including sufficient cloud formation, humidity, favourable wind conditions and suitable cloud dynamics.
“We cannot promise that the haze will be gone because we must not forget where our source of haze comes from,” he said, while expressing hope that efforts to reduce hotspots in Indonesia would also succeed.
He said Sarawak’s own hotspot situation remained low and cited a fire in Senadin two days ago which was extinguished within three hours through cooperation among the landowner and relevant agencies.
Uggah also urged the public to stop open burning and immediately report any detected hotspots to the authorities so that action could be taken promptly. — DayakDaily
