Kuala lumpur: The Perak state government has announced a comprehensive strategy consisting of four critical measures to address the ongoing water supply crisis in the padi fields of Perak Tengah. This initiative includes the possibility of implementing cloud seeding operations should the situation deteriorate due to the El Ni±o phenomenon.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, the State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman, emphasized immediate actions such as negotiations with TNB Genco to manage water release. This approach aims to secure adequate water supply for both irrigation and the Perak Water Board (LAP) plants.
The state government is also considering the construction of tube wells in areas prone to water shortages. This proposal requires technical evaluations from the Department of Minerals and Geoscience, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). The estimated cost for constructing around 10 tube wells is over RM3 million, with a completion timeline of approximately one and a half years, inclusive of study processes and drilling operations.
Moreover, Mohammad Nizar highlighted the suggestion to have DID deploy mobile pumps to padi fields encountering water supply issues or pump failures, thereby preventing disruptions in the planting season. Additionally, DID will enhance monitoring in collaboration with TNB on water releases from the Temenggor Dam through Bersia, Kenering, and Chenderoh dams to better manage water supply for both irrigation and domestic needs.
Should these efforts prove inadequate, the state government is prepared to request cloud seeding operations through the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) as a measure of last resort. Mohammad Nizar noted improvements in Teluk Bakong, where the pump system is now operational, while focus shifts to resolving issues in Kubang Haji and Bota Kiri.
State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun reported that approximately 600 to 700 farmers in non-granary areas of Perak Tengah have been impacted by the irrigation challenges. Low river water levels have led to planting delays, affecting about 1,300 hectares out of 3,160 hectares meant for cultivation in the current season.
Mohd Zolkafly expressed that water supply will be gradually distributed according to DID's schedule, facilitating the cultivation of more padi fields as the situation stabilizes. He also mentioned the potential formation of a special task force to explore new solutions for water supply challenges, extending beyond Perak Tengah to other affected non-granary regions.
The state government is urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to expedite the proposal to designate Perak Tengah as a granary area, a proposal that has been under consideration since 2017.