KUANTAN: Cloud seeding should be conducted to boost water levels at main rivers in Pahang.
State Tourism, Environment, Plantation and Biotechnology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said cloud seeding was necessary due to drop in water levels at some of the main rivers in the state.
He said the hot and dry weather had affected Sungai Pahang, Sungai Tembeling, Sungai Jelai, Sungai Semantan and Sungai Kuantan.
Sharkar said water at these rivers was not only used for domestic purpose but also for agriculture as well as to rear fresh water fish in cages.
He said as such the federal government should intervene by conducting cloud seeding to restore river water levels.
"I will table a complete report at the next state exco meeting on the main rivers' water level and what needs to be done to counter the extended long dry weather including the need for cloud seeding," he said.
The infobanjir.water.gov.my website which shows water levels of several major rivers in the country including Sungai Pahang showed that the main water artery in Pahang had seen a drop of up to three metres due to the hot weather.
The Sungai Pahang water level at Paloh Hinai in Pekan stood 5.42m compared to its normal level of 6.5m, while in Maran, the water level now stood at 11.82m (normal 14m), followed by 43.16m in Jerantut (normal 44m) and 23.12m in Temerloh (normal, 26m).
In addition, Sungai Jelai at Lipis had dipped to 53.44m (normal 55m), Sungai Bentong in Bentong was at 90.93m (normal 92m), Sungai Triang in Bera at 30.57m (normal 31m) and Sungai Kuantan in Bukit Kenau was at 16.18m (17m).