Perak govt mulls drawing water from Sg Perak to fill Bkt Merah dam
According to Bernama, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said the state government's idea has been conveyed to the federal government.
"We are seeking help from the federal government to...
The Perak government is considering drawing water from Sungai Perak to replenish the depleting Bukit Merah dam.
According to Bernama, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said the state government's idea has been conveyed to the federal government.
"We are seeking help from the federal government to draw water from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah catchment pond for industrial use which will definitely involve a high cost.
"The Irrigation and Drainage Department and Perak Water Board are conducting a detailed study on the matter and hopefully the issue can be resolved as soon as possible," he said.
It was reported that low water levels at the dam are affecting farmers in the vicinity and also caused the Orang Utan Island conservation facility to close because it is now inaccessible by boat.
The Bukit Merah dam primarily provides water for paddy land and water supply for the Krian district in northwest Perak.
According to Google Earth, the distance from Kampung Selamat, south of the Bukit Merah dam, to Tasik Raban which connects to Sungai Perak, is 28km. The two locations are separated by the Bintang Hijau mountain range.
Meanwhile, Saarani urged critics not to politicise his suggestion for Perakians to grow their own vegetables and rear livestock to address food security issues.
"All political parties need to understand this in order to change our life. I have been talking about this matter since I took office as the state exco two years ago," he told reporters.
According to Saarani, he did not ask those living in apartments to grow vegetables and rear livestock, adding that home farming has become the culture of the Chinese community in the country, especially in new villages.
Last Tuesday (May 31), the Perak government urged the people in the state to grow vegetables and rear livestock for their own consumption due to the current shortage of food supply which sparked criticism from various parties, including political leaders.
