Water woes in Johor, cloud seeding to help fill dams

CHUAH BEE KIM New Straits Times 4 Oct 15;

NUSAJAYA: The cloud seeding operation to boost levels at two dams faced with critically low water levels in Johor is expected to be conducted soon.

Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said no date has been fixed for the operation.

However, he said the authorities were now waiting for the presence of suitable clouds that are needed for cloud seeding.

"The cloud seeding operation will continue until the water levels at the Sungai Layang and Sungai Lebam dams are stabilised.

“Currently, the water levels at both dams have registered only a slight increase," Hasni said , adding that more rain is needed.

"It is hoped the cloud seeding operation, to be carried out continuously whenever conditions are favourable, will solve the water woes by the end of the year," he said after launching the state-level 'Anugerah Desa Sejahtera 1Malaysia 2015 at the banquet hall of the state assembly building in Kota Iskandar, here.

Hasni said the state government will furnish Singaporean authorities with details of the operation such as type of aircraft and technology to be used, and the grace period.

Meanwhile, Hasni said the ongoing water rationing exercise in Pasir Gudang and parts of Kota Tinggi district, which was done to preserve water from the two dams, will continue until Oct 15.