Bernama 24 Feb 11;
PASIR GUDANG, Feb 24 (Bernama) - The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will be using deep tube wells to suppress fires on peat land throughout the country under the Peat Land Management Programme.
Its minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said to date, eight tube wells had been operational in Selangor (two), Pahang (three), Johor (two) and one in Sarawak.
Another eight are under construction in Pahang (two), Sarawak (four) and two in Sabah.
"We are now in the midst of finalising our plan to extend the use of tube wells to other peat fire-prone states in the country," Uggah said.
He was speaking to reporters after opening an environment seminar organised by the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council in collaboration with the Johor Skills Development Centre, Department of Environment and Pasir Gudang Emergency Mutual Aid (Pagema) at Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort, here, Thursday.
Uggah said the use of tube wells was a ministry effort to achieve sustainability in peat fire-prevention throughout the country.
The method involves the drilling and extraction of ground water that will be channelled to maintain minimum water level in the peat land areas and each tube well can cater water for an area of up to 404.6 hectares.
He said check dams were also being used to maintain the minimum water level in peat land areas where 64 were operational in Selangor, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak, while 22 other dams were still under construction in these states and Sabah.
Uggah dismissed claims that deforestation had caused floods to occur in Johor recently, saying it was due to extreme climate change that also occurred in other parts of the world.
"The normal rainfall level during the monsoon period is about 200mm, but Johor recorded about 700mm in just three days, hence the flood," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Tube well system 'a big help'
Ahmad Fairuz Othman New Straits Times 25 Feb 11;
PASIR GUDANG: A tube well watering system has helped to check the outbreak of peat fires in the country since last year.
The system, developed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, was installed in at least eight locations in the country.
The tube wells, costing RM200,000 each, are bored 30m into the ground to pump water to control moisture levels on peat soil, thus avoiding severe dry conditions that could lead to fires.
Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said more tube wells would be installed this year to further enhance the system, which also includes watch towers and check dams.
"The tube wells pump up water and raise the water levels so the area does not catch fire easily.
"Last year, there were fewer fire outbreaks (on peat soil)," said Douglas, who did not provide any specific statistics on the reduction of peat fires.
He was speaking after opening a seminar titled "Environment First, Harmony Prioritised" in the Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort here yesterday.
Douglas said the tube well water pumps were able to "flood" 1,000 acres of land within two days, and had proven to be useful in preventing fires.
The current eight tube wells are in Johor's Pengerang and Sedili, Pahang's Kuantan and Pekan, two in Sarawak's Miri and two near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Selangor's Sepang.
On another issue, Douglas said the ministry would seek better solutions to expedite flood-mitigation projects following a call by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to deepen and straighten Johor's Sungai Muar.
Following the previous big flood in Johor in 2006, river-deepening projects were conducted in Kota Tinggi, Plentong near Johor Baru, and Batu Pahat. The outbreak of floods in Johor on Jan 30 affected the districts of Segamat, Muar, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Kulaijaya and Johor Baru.
