Malaysia: Air force on standby for cloud seeding exercise

Fazleena Aziz and Balqis Lim New Straits Times 23 Feb 14;

RAINFALL: Operation will commence once weather condition is right, says NSC

KUALA LUMPUR: THE cloud seeding plan to induce rainfall is set to go once the right atmospheric condition presents itself, said National Security Council (NSC) secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abd Wahab.

He said the Royal Malaysian Air Force was on standby to begin the operation.

He dismissed claims that the NSC was waiting for a crisis to occur before embarking on the exercise.

"It is not true that the NSC is waiting for a full-blown emergency before going ahead with the cloud seeding."

The Meteorological Department had earlier said that it was not suitable to carry out cloud seeding at the moment because of stable wind conditions. The best conditions for it are light and variable winds at a minimum altitude of 5,000km

Thajudeen said the authorities were focusing on catchment areas for the exercise.

"The cost for this exercise would be shared by the agencies involved, including the Meteorological Department, the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) and others."

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Bhd (Syabas) said the demand for water brought on by the dry spell was among the reasons for the shortage of supply to several parts of the capital and Petaling.

Its communications and public affairs department assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said more consumers could be affected if the situation persisted.

"We have mobilised static tanks and water tankers to affected areas. However, the supply is limited and we may not be able to fulfil everyone's needs.

"We urge the public who are taking water from the tankers to be prudent and to use the supply wisely."

She said Syabas' role was to distribute treated water, which is bought from the treatment plant and not directly from the dams.

"The dams and rivers come under Luas. The treatment plant and balancing reservoir come under Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd while the pump house, service reservoir and pipes come under Syabas.

"Under the concessionaire's agreement, the state government is responsible for making sure there is enough water supply. Syabas is only the distributor."

Checks by the New Sunday Times revealed that while supply had resumed in some areas in Kuala Langat and Hulu Langat, many were still affected by the shortage.

Elfie Masrom, 25, who lives with his family of five in Kampung Bukit Changgang, Hulu Langat, said his area had been affected for almost two weeks.

His family waits in front of their house every day for the water tankers to come after dawn.

"We bought a water storage tank for RM400 just to store enough water for the family," he said, adding they were sharing the storage tank with relatives who live next door.

Muhammad Ikhwan Ridzwan, 24, said there was still no water supply in Cheras Perdana.

"It has been a week now and I have not seen any water tankers around my area."

Executive Shaun Dhwana from Sungai Long in Kajang said his family opted to stay at a relative's house.

"We could not cope with the situation so I suggested to my mum that we stay at my aunt's house in Cheras," he said, adding it had been a week since their water supply was disrupted.

Ticketing assistant Muhammad Shahir Noor Azman, 24, said water supply in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn had resumed but the pressure was still low.

In Seremban, Bernama reported that the National Water Services Commission (Span) had confirmed there was no water crisis in Negri Sembilan.

Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan Sdn Bhd (Sains) corporate services division head Norzita Ismail said the water supply situation in the state was under control.

"This was stated personally by Span chief executive officer Datuk Teo Yen Hua after a working visit to the Sains headquarters to check on the water supply in Negri Sembilan."

She said the hour-long discussion between Sains and Span officers was followed up by visits to the Sungai Terip Dam, Ngoi-Ngoi water treatment plant, Triang Dam and the water intake at Petasih.

The state government opened a disaster operations room last Sunday following the drying up of the source of raw water in Sungai Batang Benar, Pantai, which disrupted supply to Seremban Barat, particularly Taman Nusari Bayu, Taman Nusari Aman, Taman Sendayan Indah, Taman Cederawasih, Mambau, Taman Kelab Tuanku and Bukit Sendayan.

Supply to the area was restored after Sains activated its contingency plan by sending tanker lorries and stationing static water tanks in the affected housing estates and channelling water from the Kuala Sawah treatment plant.

Norzita said consumers who needed help could contact Sains' toll free line, 1-800-88-6982.

In Kuantan, Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (Paip) offered to send its tanker lorries to help distribute water in affected states.

Paip public relations officer Jaafar Abdullah said the corporation, which handles water treatment and distribution in Pahang, could dispatch at least five water tanker lorries to Selangor and Negri Sembilan

"We can help distribute water from the source to affected residents, especially those in critical areas. We can also send treated water to ensure consumers are not exposed to water-borne diseases."

He said Paip tanker lorries could also help provide clean water to important premises, such as hospitals and clinics.

"There are a lot of affected areas and I believe that they need more tanker lorries to distribute water. We are willing to help if there is a request from the state governments involved."

Jaafar said Pahang was not facing any water shortages. Additional reporting by Hamzah Jamaludin

Read more: Air force on standby for cloud seeding exercise - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/air-force-on-standby-for-cloud-seeding-exercise-1.490862#ixzz2u6wM4usw