GEORGE TOWN: Penang may apply for another round of cloud seeding operations after two such operations this week failed to bring any rain.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has been tasked to liaise with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to conduct the additional cloud seeding operations.
"We will continue to monitor the water level at the Air Itam and Teluk Bahang Dams on Penang island.
"As of now, the Air Itam Dam water capacity is at 37 per cent, an increase from 32 per cent previously.
"We have been reducing the daily drawdown from the Air Itam Dam," he said when asked on the sidelines of an international symposium opening ceremony here today.
Yesterday, PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said that despite two cloud seeding operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, no rainfall was recorded in the water catchment areas of the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam.
He said these cloud seeding operations did not and would not increase the effective capacities of the two dams.
He said the likely factors for this outcome were unfavourable atmospheric and cloud conditions.
On the prolonged dry spell and the water level in Sungai Muda, Chow said it has not reached the critical level.
Meanwhile, Chow commended the success of the Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2024 in effectively enhancing the water capacity.