Water levels at seven dams in Peninsula at crisis stage

The water levels at seven dams in the peninsula are at the crisis stage, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the capacities at the Bukit Merah Dam in Perak; Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis and Padang Saga Dam in Kedah now could only cover one month's supply of there is no rain.

The seven dams and their current capacities are as follows:

* Bukit Kwong, Kelantan (6.9 per cent),

* Labong, Johor (12.4),

* Bukit Merah, Perak (20.2),

* Beris, Kedah (25.9),

* Timah Tasoh, Perlis (27.6),

* Muda, Kedah (30.4)

* Padang Saga, Kedah (33.9);

He said the water in the Labong and Beris dams could last about three months if no rain but did not state the status for the Bukit Kwong and Muda dams.

Wan Junaidi was speaking to reporters after launching the Muara Sungai Buntal Beach Erosion Control and Rehabilitation Project in Kampung Sungai Buntal, Santubong, about 25km from here.

Thus, he urged the people to using water sparingly during the current dry season.

He said the low capacities at major dams not only affected domestic users but also the industrial and agriculture sectors.

Asked if underground water would be sourced to meet the needs of the agriculture sector, Wan Junaidi said it was not an easy task and could also have adverse implications on the environment, including lowering water capacity at lakes.

On the project, the Member of Parliament for Santubong said it entailed building one kilometre-long protective walls and dredging of the river mouth to deepen and widen the navigation channel.

It will ensure safe passage for passenger and fishing boats besides help mitigate floods upstream, he said.

He added that the project would be completed by the end of the year.

Also present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid and Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Pantai Damai seat in Saturday's state election.