Focus of three-day cloud seeding ops is on three dams and 13 catchment areas, says Uggah

KUCHING: Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah said the focus of the three-day cloud seeding operations is on three dams and 13 catchment areas as well as to wash down the airborne pollutants, from Sept 3 to 5.

Caption: Deputy Premier and SDMC chairman Douglas Uggah (seated, centre) speaking at a press conference

“The initial target of today’s operation is focused on the catchment area of Batang Ai dam before expanding to the catchment areas of Murum and Bakun dams, subject to the suitability of cloud formations and local weather conditions,” he told reporters at the RMAF base here.

The 13 catchment areas are in Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Kapit and Limbang Divisions.

The dams and the catchment areas have seen low water storage levels due the prolonged hot and hot weather conditions, he said.

“The cloud seeding operations aim to increase the likelihood of rainfall in areas where it is needed particularly in catchment areas to help boost water inflow to dams and support water resource requirements for the domestic and industrial sectors.

“At the same time, the resulting rainfall has the potential to reduce the concentration of airborne pollutants, thereby supporting efforts to address air quality deterioration and the impact of haze,” he explained.

“However, the effectiveness of cloud seeding operations depends on natural atmospheric conditions, such as the presence of suitable clouds, humidity, wind, atmospheric stability, and cloud dynamics determine the suitability of a flight session.  

“Therefore, operations are carried out only when meteorological conditions meet the established criteria,” he said.

Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, with the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, is carrying out the operations.

Other agencies involved in the operations are  National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Malaysian Civil Defence Force,  Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB),  Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications (MUT), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Royal Malaysian Police , Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB),  Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, (Southern Region),  Malaysian Army and Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit.