Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government must make drastic efforts to carry out cloud seeding in Sabah, said Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah said.
He said the current hot and dry weather reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius has started to affect the existing water supply.
“The State Water Department’s assessment shows the water level at the dam reservoir is in catastrophic condition and enough to meet the needs of consumers for only three months,” he said.
He added that water resources in river basins across multiple districts have decreased significantly.
“The high heat wave that is destroying crops and livestock has begun to affect the water supply of people in the rural areas,” he said in a statement, Monday.
The Gagasan Rakyat Vice President urged the State Government to promptly submit an application to the National Disaster Management Agency for cloud seeding.
Masiung said the drought and hot weather in Sabah has already lasted a month.
METMalaysia anticipates the dry and hot weather in Sabah to last till the end of May.
The southwest monsoon phenomenon this year is highly uncommon, and the Government must take drastic measures to accelerate the cloud seeding process, he said.
He said villagers disliked the water rationing measures. Moreover, around the middle of March, Muslims will start fasting.
“At the same time, schools will reopen in areas where hot and dry weather can expose people to heat stroke.”
