Malaysia starts cloud seeding to tackle drought
Malaysia starts cloud seeding to tackle drought
03 March 2014
published by www.channelnewsasia.com
Malaysia — Cloud seeding will begin across four states in Malaysia — Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor — after weeks of hot and dry weather sparked bush fires and forced water rationing to be carried out in many areas.
Cloud seeding will begin across four states in Malaysia after weeks of hot and dry weather sparked bush fires and forced water rationing to be carried out in many areas.
But the rain, if it comes, might only bring temporary relief, and is unlikely to shore up reserve levels at nearby dams.
A thick haze shrouding Kuala Lumpur has also added to the woes of millions of residents already struggling to cope with the shortage of water.
And while cloud seeding is unlikely to wash away the haze, many welcomed the government’s move to finally induce rain across Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.
Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip of the Malaysian Meteorological Department said: ” For the cloud seeding, our focus is mainly over the catchment area — the dam — so it will not stop the haze condition today, but I think in another two or three days, as the wind is strengthening, it will disperse all this (the haze).”
Authorities are confident that rain will fall in the targeted areas, but it is difficult to predict just how much it will increase water levels, so water rationing is set to continue.
However, despite the government urging the public to conserve and use water only for drinking, cooking and bathing, not many are heeding the call. Some car wash operators in Kuala Lumpur said they will continue to operate their businesses till their taps run dry.
The second phase of water rationing begins this week.
It will cover 200 more districts in the Klang Valley, affecting almost 2.2 million people.
They will be getting two days of water supply, followed by two days without.
Plastic pails and water containers were hot commodities this past week.
Even as residents try and ride through the rough patch, they have been warned to be alert about another risk — dengue fever.
Health authorities have reminded residents to check their pails and containers regularly to ensure they do not become breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito.
A severe dengue outbreak since January has already claimed 36 lives.
More than 18,000 cases have been reported so far, representing a 350 per cent jump compared with the same period last year.
