Cloud seeding will be conducted by the Meteorological Department from next month over all dam areas on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia to boost water levels in these areas.

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said among the dams involved would be the Muda Dam and Pedu Dam in Kedah; Klang Gates Dam in Kuala Lumpur; and Jus Dam in Jasin, near Malacca.

He said cloud seeding in the area were also being carried out following demands from operators of the dams concerned to avoid water levels in the dams from dropping to critical levels.

“We use the Cessna aircraft for the job and will start in the north, namely, in Kedah to the south in Johor,” he told reporters after launching a 2014 World Meteorological day celebration and opening the Malacca Meteorological Department office yesterday.

He said the Meteorological Department would always monitor the weather nationwide before cloud seeding was implemented to avoid wastage.

He said a cloud seeding operation would cost RM80,000 and it would only be carried out if it could be at least 85 percent successful.

Abu Bakar said eight operations had been carried out in Selangor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Pahang between March 3 and last Friday.

He said peninsular Malaysia was expected to receive 50mm to 150mm, Sarawak, 100mm to 200mm, and Sabah, 100mm to 300mm, of rain, next month.

Meanwhile, Abu Bakar said the upgrading of the Malacca Meterological Department was completed in 2009 at a cost of RM2.3 million.

He said it was equipped with sophisticated weather surveying equipment worth RM2.6 million. The department was based at the Malacca International Airport.

“The accuracy of the weather forecast in Malacca is expected to reach 85 percent with the upgrading exercise,” he added.

- Bernama