By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Nov 23 — A total of 21 reservoirs have been identified for renovations under the Raw Water Security Scheme (SJAM) in preparation for the expected prolonged drought in 2025.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and public amenities Izham Hashim the reservoirs should be able to serve as a supplementary water source for two months.
He said the reservoirs will be upgraded with additional infrastructure to increase its capacity from the current 14 million cubic metres to 21 million cubic metres.
“The Selangor Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) has gazetted 20 former mine ponds and identified 78 new reservoirs. Out of the total 98 reservoirs, the state government authorised 21 reservoirs to be improved under SJAM.
“Apart from that, 127 flood reservoirs operated by JPS (Department of Irrigation and Drainage) can also serve as both flood reservoirs and alternative water sources during the dry season,” he told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, here today.
Izham was answering a query from Subang Jaya state assembly Michelle Ng Mei Sze, who asked about the state administration’s strategy for dealing with the expected severe drought in 2025.
Meanwhile, Izham stated that JPS has created a website for information on the drought at http://infokemarau.water.gov.my, which includes information on the level of the dams in real-time, discharge data and rainfall for all hydrological stations across the country.
He said that the media utilise the data to report on the status of the dams.
“JPS is also putting together a drought disaster action plan with comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOP) for before, during and after a drought incident,” he added.
