Countdown: 29 days left for S’gor to go dry – MB

(Bernama) – The Selangor government will continue implementing the water rationing plan as the water level at the Sungai Selangor dam is now at the critical level and can only last 29 days, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.

He said as at April 20, the dam’s water level was recorded at 89.29 million cubic metres or only 38.82 per cent of its full capacity of 235.32 million cubic metres, reported Bernama.

“Hence, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) with the cooperation from Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KKSB), are in the midst of exploring former mining ponds in the state with the aim to pump raw water into Selangor river.

“This way, water release from the dam can be reduced and the water level can last much longer,” he told reporters after opening the ‘Let’s Read For 10 Minutes’ Programme at Tun Uda Library here today.

The menteri besar also said LUAS and the Drainage and Irrigation Department were also pumping water from parts of the river which received heavy rainfall into ponds near the dam for use in the dry season.

Abdul Khalid said the state government had identified the pumps and would buy them as it was cheaper than having to rent the pumps.

Besides, he said the cloud seeding method known as the ‘royal rain-making technology’ would also be used to create rainfall at least three times a week in the state.

“We expect these efforts to produce approximately 1,000 million litres per day (MLD) of raw water. If the implementation indicator shows a positive result within this week, the state government will reconsider the initial decision on the water rationing plan,” he said.

In KUANTAN last night, Abdul Khalid was reported as saying that the Selangor government was expected to announce its decision on the water rationing plan next week.

He said this followed the agreement reached during his discussion with Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee and the representative from the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) last Sunday.

The menteri besar also reported as having given assurance that no water rationing would be implemented in Selangor during Ramadan and Hari Raya.