Although the rain returning to the Klang Valley over the past week has been a blessing for people in the area affected by haze and bush fires, the Sungai Selangor Dam which supplies 60% of the area’s population with water still hasn’t benefited from the increased rainfall.
Water reserves at the Sungai Selangor Dam continue to decrease well below critical levels.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the water level at the dam was currently at 38.53%, and had been dropping at a rate of three per cent per week. The water level at a dam is considered to be critical if it drops below 40%.
“The water catchment area is still not receiving enough water despite frequent rain throughout the week,” he said at the launch of the Asia Water 2014 Exhibition yesterday.
“Cloud seeding at the catchment areas has been temporarily stopped as assets are redeployed in the search for MH370.
“But we are hopeful the situation will improve over the coming weeks.”
According to Ongkili, the Federal Government had approved an interstate raw water transfer project from Sungai Semantan Basin in Pahang to Hulu Langat in Selangor. The raw water would be transferred over a distance of 44.6km across the Titiwangsa mountain range and will be treated in the new Langat water treatment plant.
“With additional raw water from the river, there will be more water supply for consumers in the Klang Valley.”
He said the federal government was committed to assisting the Selangor government as the state faced a water crisis.
Story: The Malay Mail Online
