Sofi: Op was a partial success

‘Cloud-seeding operations in Melaka brought rain but away from shore’

The cloud-seeding operation in Melaka proved to be a “partial success”.

State public works, transport and public amenities committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sofi Abdul Wahab said rain resulting from Sunday’s operation was mostly away from the shore, though some did fall over the target areas, namely Sungai Batang Melaka, the catchment for the Jus Reservoir and the catchment in the Alor Gajah district.

“We will continue cloud-seeding operations based on plans and recommendations from the Meteorological Department, but this will depend on the clouds and wind.

“Each run takes about two hours and we hope to get better results,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a message shared by the Chief Minister’s Office with the media on WhatsApp, it said the water level at the Durian Tunggal reservoir in Alor Gajah was at 25.7%, or 7,920 million litres, after receiving 12mm of rain.

The level at two reservoirs in Jasin, namely the Jus Reservoir, is at 31.2%, or 13,525 million litres, after getting 13mm of rainfall, and at Asahan Reservoir, it is at 58.1%, or 405 million litres (4mm of rainfall).

On Jan 29, Melaka implemented daily water rationing that affected 550,673 people (or 62.8% of the residents in the state) after prolonged dry weather from phase two of the northeast monsoon season that is expected to be over next month.

The water rationing enters the second phase from today and runs until Feb 23, after the first phase that lasted 12 days.

The second phase of rationing covers industrial areas, tourism spots and hospitals in the historical core of Melaka city, besides households. — Bernama