SHAH ALAM, 22 Apr: The Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) has been directed to contact the Thailand Government to use a cloud seeding technology called ‘The Royal Rainmaking Technology’ to get rain at least three times a week.
The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the technology is to ensure that cloud seeding efforts carried out will produce rain in areas required, especially at the Sungai Selangor Dam.
Abdul Khalid said that the decision was made after a meeting yesterday with LUAS, DID, the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and four concession companies.
“The State Government studying the exploration of groundwater which has potential to produce raw water between 300 to 400 million litres per day (MLD) while waiting for the HORAS project to be completed in July 2015,” said Abdul Khalid in a press statement.
He said that these underground water reservoirs are prepared by taking into consideration the dry season in future, where during severe and prolonged dry seasons, surface water, like river water, will reduce.
“We expect all these efforts to produce about 1,000 MLD of raw water and if it shows positive performance indicators in a week, the State Government is ready to review the water rationing decision.
“The rationing is being continued because the water level in dams, namely the Sungai Selangor Dam, is still below the critical level and the water currently available can only last for 29 days if the rationing is not carried out,” said Abdul Khalid.
He said that he hopes that the people understand the situation and support the State Government’s efforts in preparing for the dry season which is expected to be more severe and prolonged.
“The State Government also hopes that certain parties will not manipulate this situation because the lack of water is due to the weather and the rainfall received is still not enough to increase the water capacity at dams,” said Abdul Khalid.