By Amanda L
KUCHING, Aug 31: Sarawak is racing to shore up water supplies amid the prolonged dry spell, as cloud seeding operations are targeted for Sept 3 to 5.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the operation would proceed only if suitable cloud formations and atmospheric conditions were present.
“We need a pool of clouds. If there are no clouds, the environment is not suitable for cloud seeding,” he told reporters after the SDMC meeting here today.
He said the exercise would not only help alleviate the haze but also replenish water resources, including dams and water supply sources, during the prolonged dry period.
Uggah said the priority would be power dams, followed by water reservoirs where levels have fallen due to the dry conditions.
“Four water treatment plants identified for priority attention are Simunjan, Lingga, Spaoh and Lichok.
“Two cloud seeding operations had already been carried out in May and June after Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) reported that dam water levels had reached a dangerous level,” he added.
As the dry spell continues, the SDMC has also approved RM400,000 requested by the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to purchase additional water tanks.
He said the tanks would be placed at central collection points in larger villages where residents could collect water instead of having it delivered to individual households.
JBALB currently has 24 water tankers and 74 contracted units, bringing the total to 98.
From Aug 18 to 29, the tankers and lorries made 680 trips, delivering 3,344,260 litres of water to affected areas in Betong, Samarahan, Limbang, Sri Aman and Miri.
Additionally, the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) also distributed 450,584 boxes of drinking water to 49,523 families involving 225,822 people from January to Aug 26, with assistance totalling RM7.73 million. —DayakDaily
