KEDAH RATIONS WATER

Restrictions applied in 6 areas in state

DECLINING water supply due to the heatwave has forced the Kedah government to implement water rationing in several areas in the state, Bernama reported.

Although no emergency has been declared, water supply restrictions have been applied in Merbok, Tanjung Dawai, Bedong, Semeling, Singkir and Gurun, areas worst affected by the months-long dry spell.

“(The level of) water rationing will depend on the severity of water (scarcity in each area). If need be, we will channel water to the affected areas,” Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said yesterday.

He said other measures to deal with the water shortage included the recent launch of the “Save Water” campaign.

Mukhriz said the state government was in discussions with Syarikat Air Darul Aman and the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry on the situation.

In Rembau, the hot weather also was said to have caused a fire at a 4.9ha forest in Batu 1/2, Kampung Kundur Hulu, on Saturday.

Operation Commander Mohd Siraj Abdullah said 17 firemen from the Rembau Fire and Rescue Station, Tampin and Seremban were rushed to the scene as soon as the department received the emergency call at 7.03pm.

“We took immediate action to control the fire from spreading to the settlements. We put it out completely about 11.30pm,” he said yesterday.

Siraj said no casualties were reported, although several explosions could be heard while the team was battling the fire.

He said initial investigations revealed that the hot weather could have triggered the fire.