IPOH: Water is being released from dams along Sg Perak in a controlled manner ahead of expected heavy rain during the monsoon season at the end of the year.
Asset Hijau TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd management head Mohd Zaini Jafaar said the controlled release of water involves the Temengor, Bersia, Kenering and Chenderoh power plants.
He said the decision to release the water was made in close coordination with government agencies, including the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
"We gather data such as weather forecasts, water inflow and current levels of water reservoirs," he said in a press conference here on Tuesday (Oct 22).
He added that the water release process is in accordance with standard operating procedures and guidelines set by Malaysia Dam Safety Management Guidelines (MyDams) and the International Commission on Large Dams (Icold).
"Efficient and controlled water management minimises flooding downstream and we can avoid an even bigger disaster in the state," he said.
Perak JPS director Ahmad Shahrir Md Naziri said heavy rainfall during the northeast monsoon transition, tidal surges and insufficient drainage systems are the main factors contributing to floods in Perak.
"We are currently in the northeast monsoon transition phase and while we are experiencing heavy rainfall, it tends to be short in duration," he said.
He also said that the Bukit Merah Dam has sufficient reserves to manage floodwaters up to the danger level of 9.14m.
There are two dams under the Perak irrigation department, namely the Bukit Merah Dam and the Gopeng Dam.
He said the department had started releasing water through the overflow channel on Sept 15, temporarily halting it on Oct 18 during a tidal surge.
Meanwhile, Perak's state infrastructure, energy, water and public transport committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, advised the public to obtain flood-related information from official sources.
"Viral misinformation can cause unnecessary panic and hinder the efforts of the Disaster Management Committee," he said.
On a separate note, Mohammad Nizar said this year's Water Sports Festival (Pesta Sukan Air) in Kuala Kangsar might be cancelled but added any official announcement would come from the event's organisers.
