IPOH: A request to do cloud seeding near the Bukit Merah Dam has been sent to the state government, says Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
The Perak water committee chairman said the request was made by the Kerian Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) after water level at the dam was categorised as being in the first stage of critical level.
Mohammad Nizar said as of Monday (June 19), the water level at the dam was at 6.9m, with some 18.7 million cubic metres of water stored.
"Based on a 14-day forecast, the water level at the dam is expected to drop," he said in a statement.
"The Meteorology Department has also forecast a low amount of rainfall in the surrounding area," he said, adding that the water level has been dropping since May 29.
"There had been some rainfall near the dam recently that caused the water level to rise up again.
"The district DID has sent in the request for a cloud seeding operation on June 1," he added.
Mohammad Nizar was commenting on a post on social media that the water level at the dam was at 6.7m.
He said that the first stage of critical level will be when water level is between 7m and 6.7m.
"The second stage will be between 6.7m and 6.4m while the third stage will be between 6.1m and 6.4m," he added.
He said a water rationing exercise would also be conducted.
He added that the exercise will not affect the daily domestic water supply.
