Four out of 20 dams at critical level

Water capacity at four out of 20 dams monitored by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is at the critical level as of Monday following the current heatwave in the country.

The four dams are Kwong in Kelantan at 27.9 percent capacity; Padang Saga in Langkawi, Kedah (38 percent); Labong, Johor (14.3 per cent) and Timah Tasoh in Kangar, Perlis (38.8 percent).

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the other dams recorded water levels at between 53 percent and 100 percent.

In another development, he said a technical meeting on coral reef monitoring would be held by the Department of Marine Parks (JLTM) soon.

"Extreme temperature increase can affect marine ecosystems especially corals because they are very sensitive to changes in their environment," he said in a statement in Putrajaya today.

Wan Junaidi said sudden temperature changes of two degrees Celsius for eight weeks could cause coral bleaching and death.

"If the temperature changes significantly, between one and two degrees Celsius, JLTM will hold the National Coral Reef Bleaching Technical Advisory meeting and the National Coral Reef Bleaching Response Committee meeting," he said.

The meetings will be held to coordinate the action plan, such as monitoring the marine recreational activities, disseminating information to the public especially tourists and monitoring public complaints, he said.

Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the ministry and other relevant agencies had been enhancing prevention efforts against open burning which could potentially cause haze.

The efforts include activating the open burning prevention action plan throughout the country starting Jan 12.

Between early this year and March 19, a total of 703 open burning cases were detected nationwide involving forest, agriculture, industry and landfill areas as well as construction sites.

Fines were imposed in 56 of the cases, 18 cases were issued notice of instruction and seven cases were issued letter of instruction.

"The investigation papers on three cases are ready for court action," he said.

In PASIR MAS, Pasir Mas DID district engineer Hanisah Che Wok said the Kwong Dam was still supplying water to agriculture areas despite the low level.

Hanisah said they were monitoring the situation closely.

In SEREMBAN, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan said there were no plans for water rationing in the state as there was adequate supply even though levels at dams had dipped due to the prolonged hot and dry weather.

In IPOH, the Perak state executive councillor in charge, Zainol Fadzi Paharudin, said the state would also not be facing any water shortage for now.

– Bernama