PADANG TERAP: The ongoing dry spell has left the Pedu Dam Lake almost dry.
Checks in Kampung Mong Gajah today found many areas now bare, exposing old village wells and remaining water pools.
A Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft was spotted performing cloud seeding operations at 1.50pm.
A local resident Arman Che Ya, 43, said that the water level at the lake had been depleting for months, but the situation was not as dire as in 2020 or during the El Nino phenomenon in 2016.
"I noticed a plane circling over the area earlier. I was unaware of the cloud seeding today until a friend mentioned it. I hope this effort helps increase the water level in the dam.
"If the Pedu Lake dries up entirely, it will uncover old burial grounds in the village.
"I've been informed the dams are losing water, and it's likely the situation could recur without any rainfall," he said when met today.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the government would conduct cloud seeding in Kedah and Perak for three consecutive days starting tomorrow.
He reportedly said that the aim was to elevate water levels at the Bukit Merah Dam in Perak and Muda Dam in Kedah for both agricultural and domestic purposes.
Meanwhile, visitor Nadia Farhana Mohd Raznan, 37, who came to inspect the dam, was surprised by the situation.
"Two weeks ago, I visited the spot and was surprised to see the lake getting drier.
"I hope today's cloud seeding is effective. While some people enjoy seeing the dry dam, we must be concerned as it holds water for both domestic and agricultural needs.
"I observed the plane circling for about 15 minutes. The sky is cloudy today, and I hope the cloud seeding succeeds and brings continuous rain to boost the dam's water level," said Nadia who came with her husband, Mohamad Abdullah, 45.
Given the dry conditions, Nadia and her husband took the chance to hunt for clams.
Nadia said her husband loves eating clams and makes it a yearly tradition to collect them from the lake when water levels drop.
According to the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) website, the water level at Pedu Dam stands at 40.87 per cent, Muda Dam at 8.36 per cent, and Ahning Dam at 82.44 per cent.
However, Mada stressed that the water levels in all three dams were still considered normal and high compared with the lowest recorded levels previously.