Govt developing new water management system to optimise water distribution

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is developing the National Water Balance Management System (Nawabs) to optimise water distribution during prolonged droughts in future.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said the system, when completed, will be implemented in six major rivers in the country.
They are the Muda, Kedah, Bernam, Klang, Malacca and Kelantan rivers, he told the Dewan Negara today.
He said his ministry will table the Water Resources Bill, among others, in future to protect water catchment areas from threats such as development and logging.
He was replying to a question by Senator Abdul Shukor Mohd Sultan who asked what were the ministry's efforts to rehabilitate dams that are in critical condition following the El Nino dry spell.
He said the water in Timah Tasoh, Beris, Muda and Pedu dams fell below critical levels and cloud seeding were conducted since April 16 by the Meteorological Department.
Water levels at the Timah Tasoh dam have since increased by 0.5m and water rationing in Perlis was halted on May 22 as a result.
Hamim said, the Bukit Merah dam saw its water level rise by 1.5m and has been removed from the list of critical dams on May 14.
He said the water levels in the other dams mentioned are improving but they are still in critical condition due to inadequate rainfall.
To a supplementary question by Senator Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah on how the ministry will address the issue of deforestation, he said they will step up enforcement in illegal logging and land-clearing for agriculture, and educate the public on the effects of climate change. — Bernama