New Straits Times 21 Mar 14;
PETALING JAYA: Recent rains have brought temporary relief from the haze and dry spell that Malaysians have been enduring for the past week.
However, Meteorological Department spokesman Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the widespread rain was expected to reduce by today before picking up again by the middle of next week.
“After a few days of widespread rainfall over most of Peninsular Malaysia, the haze is unlikely to return again until June, unless there are forest and peatland fires.
“Plus, the wet season is just around the corner,” he said yesterday.
Last Friday, Port Klang and Banting reported a hazardous level of Air Pollutant Index (API) with readings exceeding 300, forcing schools in Selangor to be closed.
In contrast, as at 2pm yesterday, the API readings in both these areas had dipped to moderate levels while the air in Malacca and Negri Sembilan, which had previously registered unhealthy readings, was recorded at good.
API readings of between 0 to 50 are categorised as good, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (more than 301). The recent rainfall enjoyed by folks in Klang Valley and parts of Peninsular Malaysia was a combination of both rain and cloud-seeding efforts.
Cloud-seeding, which can induce rainfall within 15 minutes to half an hour after the exercise, resumed last Saturday after the National Security Council recalled a Hercules plane from the search of the missing MH370 plane. The operation was targeted at clouds over water catchment areas and places with severe haze.
Water rationing: Stage one is now discontinued
The Star 20 Mar 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: The first stage of the water supply ration plan has been discontinued as the Cheras Batu 11 and Bukit Tampoi are now back in operation.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) confirmed this in a statement on Thursday.
However, Syabas was still monitoring the ammonia content in Sungai Langat and would impose the water ration again if it was found to be at the dangerous level.
"At present the water treatment plants will be operating according to the quality of the raw water sources to enable the water supply to be channeled to areas being rationed in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang," it said.
The areas that are scheduled to have rationed water supply will receive water supply for the time being while the two water treatment plants are in operation.
Meanwhile the third stage of water supply rationing is still being continued despite the occurrence of rain in several areas since the last few days.
Syabas said it would be continued until amendments or directives were received from the Selangor state government and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN)
Firefighters battling 12ha forest fire in Grik
The Star 21 Mar 14;
IPOH: Some 12ha of forest in Gunung Kerunai in Grik, about 200km from here, is on fire.
So far, only 30% of the blaze had been put out, said state Fire and Rescue Department director Yahaya Madis.
Effort was being made to get closer to the more challenging spots of the hill, he added.
“Firemen have been unable to get close to certain parts of the hill due to the ninety-degree steep slope.”
He added that another segment of the slope is full of resam trees and shrubs which were making it difficult for firemen to put out the fire.
Yahaya said the department would be sending an aircraft to carry out a water bombing exercise today.
