THERE is no urgency to conduct cloud seeding over Taiping Lake Gardens as it is only a recreational area, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He was quoted as saying that Taiping Lake did not serve the same function as the Bukit Merah Dam, which provides water for domestic use and agriculture.
“Bukit Merah Dam is the water source for agricultural activities, whereas Taiping Lake is solely for recreation.
“Therefore, there is no urgency. Bukit Merah is more critical because it involves irrigation, rice farming and agriculture.
“We cannot prioritise Taiping Lake Gardens, considering cloud seeding is costly. Let nature take its course, conditions will return to normal with rainfall,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times today.
Taiping Lake Gardens is the first public recreational garden established in the country and features rain trees over 100 years old.
Known locally as hujan-hujan trees, the monkey pod tree has the scientific name of Samanea saman.
Saarani said it was unnecessary to pump water from nearby rivers into the lake.
“This incurs costs. At Bukit Merah Dam, we must conserve water as it supports agriculture,” he was quoted as saying.
It was reported earlier that Taiping Lake Gardens were facing a severe drought, with parts of the lake drying up due to prolonged extreme weather and a significant lack of rainfall.
Pokok Assam assemblyman Ong Seng Guan said the drought spell began approximately two weeks ago due to a lack of rainfall.
“It had not rained for quite some time. I believe about 40% of the lake is impacted.”
“The temperature had also risen to quite high, with some folk saying nearly 40°C,” he was quoted saying in reports.
Taiping, famously known as “Rain Town” for its frequent downpours and holding the title of Malaysia’s wettest town, last experienced a severe drought around a decade ago. – July 25, 2024.
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