Dams drying up, fire incidents on the rise

The hot and dry season has given rise to problems nationwide.

In George Town, the Air Itam Dam’s water level continues to drop. The effective capacity of the dam was recorded at 59.4 per cent yesterday, compared with 60.4 per cent on Friday.

Based on the Penang Water Supply Corporation’s (PBAPP) website, the water level at the Teluk Bahang Dam is at 74.7 per cent, while the Mengkuang Dam’s water level is at 45.9 per cent.

Prior to this, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa was reported to have said the Itam Dam’s water reserve recorded a decline of 31.8 per cent in two months.

He said the dam’s effective capacity earlier this year was at 92.2 per cent before it dropped to below 60 per cent.

He said the water level in Sungai Muda, Kedah, the state’s major raw water supplier, dropped from 2.35m on Jan 1 to 1.55m.

In Kluang, the dry spell has contributed to a rise in fire incidents.

The Kluang Fire and Rescue Department has received 100 emergency calls related to fires, mostly involving farms, farmland and forests.

Its chief, Senior Superintendent Akob Sedek, said the latest incident on Saturday involved 1.6ha of farmland and forests.

He said it took four hours to get the fire under control.

The operation was assisted by six members of the Kluang Malaysia Civil Defence Force.

“The number of fire incidents in areas under the station’s supervision has increased significantly, especially last month, with 99 cases recorded compared with 20 in January.

“For this month only, we have received 27 emergency calls,” he said yesterday.

People have been advised to avoid open burning.

Mengkibol assemblyman Chew Chong Sin said the public must heed the authorities’ advice, especially the Fire and Rescue Department, to prevent fatalities.

“At the same time, people are encouraged to join the voluntary firefighting team to assist firefighters. Currently, there are only two Fire and Rescue Departments in the district.

“They are in Kluang and Simpang Renggam.”