SIK: The cloud seeding operation launched by the government since Monday began yielding positive results as there has been rainfall in the water catchment areas since yesterday evening.
However, the Muda Dam remains at critical level at only 8.44 per cent of its capacity remaining.
This is based on an update on the National Water Services Commission (Span) portal today.
Local inland fisherman Awang Salleh said it has been raining for over an hour at Tasik Gubir, located in the Muda Dam area, since noon today.
"We are grateful that it is raining again. We hope to see more rainfall to come so that the water level in the dam will improve," he said when contacted today.
Awang said the cloud seeding operation led by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) since Monday has begun showing positive results following a 20-minute shower in the dam area yesterday evening.
"I was at home when I received a call from a fellow fisherman in Tasik Gubir about 5pm yesterday informing me that it was raining," he said.
Today marked the final day of the three-day cloud seeding operation conducted over the Muda Dam here and the Bukit Merah Dam in north Perak.
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the federal government was carrying out cloud seeding operations for three days to increase the water level at the Bukit Merah Dam in Perak and the Muda Dam in Kedah.
He said the operation was being carried out following a request from the Muda Agricultural Development Authority, the Kerian Integrated Agricultural Development Area and the Kedah State Water Resources Board.
Meanwhile, checks on the Nadma portal showed that water reserves in Pedu Dam and Ahning Dam in Padang Terap also recorded a dip today.
Pedu Dam water reserves remain at a warning level with reserves dipping to 39.71 per cent as compared to 40.28 per cent recorded yesterday.
The Ahning Dam remains at normal level, but its reserves were also down from 81.97 per cent yesterday to 81.76 per cent today.
The Beris Dam water level has continued dropping since its reserves were released to stabilise Sungai Muda water level beginning a week ago.
Sungai Muda is the key water source for domestic and industrial usage in Kedah and neighbouring state Penang.
Water catchment facilities in Kedah and northern states have been recording a significant dip in water level over the past two months due to a prolonged dry spell.