ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will not resort to water rationing, but instead continue with raw water transfer projects to boost the levels at two dams faced with critically low reserves.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said various measures have been put in place after the state faced water rationing in three districts last year.
"Regardless of the extent of the El Nino affect, we managed to put in place various projects that will be developed to handle (effects of the) severe weather condition.
"Unlike last year, when the only option was to resort to water rationing, starting from this year, upon completion of the various ongoing projects, we will not be adopting rationing as a step to overcome such issues," Hasni told reporters at Kota Iskandar today.
He said the Petronas Raw Water Supply Project to RAPID (Pamer) slated to be completed next month will transfer 30 million litres per day of raw water to Sungai Lebam, Kota Tinggi.
Another RM100 million project approved by the federal government will transfer raw water from Seluyut Dam to the Upper Layang Dam and has also started.
On Tuesday, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the government was keeping a close watch on six dams in four states, which included the Lebam Dam and Layang Dams in Johor because their raw water levels dipped to 30 per cent and below.