YAN: The water levels in the Muda Dam in Sik, Kedah and Bukit Merah Dam in Perak remain at critical level as of this morning after the first day of cloud seeding operation carried out yesterday.

Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said six other dams nationwide are at warning level, which include the Pedu Dam and Beris Dam in Kedah. 

Akmal said the success rate of the cloud seeding operation could only be fully assessed in the next two days.

"The success rate means we must look at the overall water level in the relevant dams. We just started the operation yesterday, and we are resuming the operation today and tomorrow.

"If we look at the dams, the water level is still unchanged as compared to the reading recorded yesterday but inshaaAllah, that is our effort (cloud seeding)," he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of two sabo dams in Yan and Kuala Muda districts by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to the Kedah state government in Titi Hayun here today.

Present was the state Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply, and Resources and Environmental Committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria.

As of yesterday, the combined water reserve in Kedah comprising three main dams, namely Muda Dam, Pedu Dam and Ahning Dam was recorded at 45 per cent compared to 47 per cent on Thursday.

Yesterday, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) carried out cloud seeding operations in Muda Dam and Bukit Merah Dam after both water catchments' reserves fell to below critical level at below 10 per cent of their capacity. 

Meanwhile, Yusoff said the Beris Dam is capable of catering to water demand for Kedah and Penang until end of September.

"Beris Dam is a reserve water catchment facility which is only utilised during critical period like now.

"We have started releasing 10 million cubic metres of water from Beris Dam daily to Sungai Muda to be treated for Kedah and Penang usage since last week," he said.

Yusoff urged the public to use water wisely so that the water reserve is sufficient until the water in all dams stabilised.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1083967/water-levels-muda-bukit-merah-dams remain-critical-level-after-first-day