The Star 8 Nov 09;
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Government is studying the possibility of building a new dam in Kahang as an alternative water source for the state.
State International Trade and Industry, Energy, Water, Communications and Environment Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong said the suggestion was made after several of the state’s dams showed low water levels even during the monsoon.
“We face this problem yearly and it is quite alarming especially at the Sembrong dam in Kluang,” he said.
He added that the issue was brought up during the State Water Resource committee meeting chaired by Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman.
“We anticipated the problem at the beginning of the year and raised the dam’s capacity.
“This however, has not helped to solve the problem as the water level at the dam is still quite low.”
Tan said the other dams had not reached critical level and gave an assurance the state would be able to provide water for at least two additional months before running dry.
Tan is chairman for the newly formed integrated river basin management committee that monitors the water levels at rivers to reduce the possibility of floods.
“We had our first meeting on Wednesday with experts from the Malaysian Nature Society and other non-governmental organisations to find the best solution to the problem,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the 10th anniversary of BASF Southeast Asia Pte Ltd, an engineering plastics compounding plant, in Pasir Gudang here on Thursday.
“Floods are a major problem in the state and we need to find a solution that will also be environmentally friendly,” he said.
There are over 400 rivers in Johor.
