IPOH: The Perak government will form a special committee to find a short-term plan to address the receding water levels at the Bukit Merah Lake.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the committee members consist of those from the state Land and Mines Office, Drainage and Irrigation Department and Public Works Department.
"The state government will form this committee to see how we can handle this problem and to look for a short-term plan.
"For the long-term period, we already know that we will get an allocation from the federal government for the raw water distribution project from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam," he told a press conference after attending Meet the People Day at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here, today.
Saarani was responding to a question about a suggestion made by inland fishermen who proposed for the authorities to deepen the lake after it had been dried since last week.
"We thank the people for their suggestion but the same proposal was made in 2021 and we couldn't do that.
"There was an issue with the lake bed because this lake is man made and we are not sure if we can dig deeper, and whether there is a water source down there or not," he said.
Built-in 1906, Bukit Merah Lake is one of the country's oldest and was originally built to allow padi farmers to practice twice-a-year harvesting.
This lake occupies an area of about 40 sq km and straddles two districts – Kerian and Larut Matang.
Besides that, Saarani said he would also request the federal government for cloud seeding to be carried around the lake area.
"Cloud seeding has been carried out before, but how effective it is to help solve the issue of the drying lake has to be seen.
"Because there needs to be continuous rain to help fill the lake. It is not just about having rain in the evening, and the next day it is dry again," he said.