Drought shrinks Kelantan river, disrupts villagers' daily lives

 

The prolonged dry season over the past few months has caused the water level of Sungai Anak Muring in Kampung Bukit Kechik, Tanah Merah, Kelantan, to drop significantly, affecting the daily lives of residents.

Recent checks by Bernama found that the river’s water level had fallen by about 3m, exposing much of the riverbed and narrowing its flow.

Bukit Kechik Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Noor Hasan, 66, said the situation has had a direct impact on villagers, who have long depended on the river as their main route and source of livelihood.

He said the river was previously used as a transport route via boats and small vessels, but is no longer navigable due to the shallow water.

“River fisherfolk can no longer cast nets or fish as some areas are nearly dry and the water flow is only about a foot wide,” he told Bernama recently.

A resident, Ismail Junoh, 71, said the drought has also affected agricultural activities, which are the main source of income for villagers.

He said the dwindling river water supply has made it difficult to consistently irrigate crops such as vegetables and small farms.

“In addition, fishing activities, which previously provided a supplementary food source, have also been affected as fish stocks are declining,” he said.

He added that catches have dropped significantly compared to before due to the increasingly shallow river conditions.

- Bernama