KUCHING: The state government will carry out cloud seeding throughout Sarawak tomorrow, regardless of the cost of the operation.
State Public Utilities Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said even though rainfall over the past few days had overcome water shortage in the affected areas, this might only be temporary as the hot and dry weather was expected to end only in September.
Speaking after chairing a meeting at Wisma Sumber Alam, he said the cost of cloud seeding and water delivery was not discussed in the meeting.
“The cost is not an issue as the government must ensure the people have sufficient supply to carry on with their daily routine.
“We will carry out whatever operations we need to and the cost will be submitted to the chief minister’s office later.”
Awang Tengah said water production in most areas had returned to normal due to the heavy downpours over the past few days. The only area still facing water shortage is Simunjan.
“We are sending 15 lorries of water to Simunjan every day until the water crisis is over,” he said, adding that the water shortage there had begun during Ramadan last month but the situation was manageable.
Awang Tengah said the water level of Sungai Sarawak Kiri at the Batu Kintang treatment plant had risen until the top of the weir and there was now full storage.
“Water production has returned to normal and water distribution to the city and its surrounding areas has been restored.”
However, the relevant agencies are still on standby in case of an emergency.
“We expect the dry spell to hit the state again so we are ready to deliver water by lorry, tanker and boat to the rural areas and settlements which are not accessible by road.”
Awang Tengah denied that the delay in the operations of the Bengoh Dam was the main cause of the water shortage.
Awang Tengah said the dam was built to cater to the increasing
demand for water supply in the future.
“It is meant for the greater Kuching area in the future and has nothing to do with the current water crisis.
“It will play an important role in the next few years, but, sadly, the opposition is trying to instigate the community.
“If they are as concerned about the needs of the people as the government, they should stop instigating the people,” he said.
Construction work on the dam, located about 40km from here, began in July 2007. It was completed three years ago but has yet to become operational.
Awang Tengah said one of the reasons for the delay was the resettlement process, while some minor construction work had yet to complete.