Penang must brace itself to face another possible drought season in 2014, in view of the possibility of an El Niño phenomenon that may last between 6 and 18 months from the middle of this year, says Lim Guan Eng.
According to him, Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) had received a letter from the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), dated 14 May 2014, stating that the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) had forecasted the possibility of this threat.
“Water Rationing had imposed unnecessary hardship to the people and businesses. If El Niño occurs as predicted, the scenario could be worse,” he said, adding that the water crisis that is to come would be worse than previously experienced if effective measures are not taken.
As a result, Kettha has requested for all state water storage to be audited effectively by all state governments responsible for water management.
Lim Guan Eng explained also that the Penang state has been fortunate for not experiencing water rationing.
“However as the drought is expected to worsen from El Nino, the state government has directed PBAPP to adopt all water supply and water demand management measures, including increasing water tariffs, to avoid water rationig”
“PBAPP has even been warned that if water rationing is imposed despite adopting these measures, then “heads will roll”,” said Lim.
The Penang State Government had also directed PBAPP to vigilantly monitor the water supply situation in the state. PBAPP has been directed to provide weekly reports on the effective capacities of the Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam, as well as the levels of Sungai Muda, Penang’s main source of raw water.
In his statement today, Lim Guan Eng shared that the Air Itam Dam,Teluk Bahang Dam, and the Mengkuang Dam have 73, 196 and 61 days of supply respectively.
He also reiterated the Penang Governments stand on the water crisis, that the state will avoid water rationing in Penang at all costs, so that the people and businesses do not suffer. -The Rocket
