ALOR STAR: The water levels at Kedah’s three main dams are sufficient to support its agricultural, domestic and industrial needs, said Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada).
It said the reservoir levels of the Pedu, Muda and Ahning dams, which supply water for padi irrigation and essential use in the state and parts of southern Perlis, are higher compared with the same period last year.
“Up to Tuesday, the total reservoir storage stood at 789.06 million cubic metres, a significant increase from the 633.42 million cubic metres recorded on the same date last year,” said the agency in a statement yesterday.
Pedu Dam is at 53.34 per cent capacity, holding 575.7 million cubic metres at a water level of 88.2m. Muda Dam is at 33.84 per cent with 52.2 million cubic metres at 92.2m, while Ahning Dam stands at 58.58 per cent with 161 million cubic metres at 101.61m.
Mada said water is being released at a rate of 99.1 cubic metres per second to support first-season padi planting in the Muda irrigation area, as well as to meet domestic and industrial water supply demand.
Up to July 29, padi planting had reached 99,832ha, or 99.2 per cent completion. Of this, 6,906ha (6.9 per cent) were at the flowering stage while 21ha (0.02 per cent) had reached maturity.
Mada projected that by the end of next month, Pedu Dam will hit 62 per cent capacity, enough to sustain irrigation and water supply for the remainder of the season.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
