Dry Spell: Plunging Sungai Perak Levels Hit Fishermen And Farmers

IPOH, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The water level of Sungai Perak in Tanjung Belanja, Parit, has been declining due to hot weather and a prolonged dry spell, affecting the daily catch and income of small-scale fishermen.

Secretary of the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) of Kampung Talang Tasik, Tanjung Belanja, Ali Aznan Yaakub said the river’s water level began to fall sharply more than two weeks ago, after the area went without rain for nearly three weeks.

“It hasn’t rained here for weeks. Even the brief rain two or three days ago didn’t reach us, and the river water is still dropping.

“Water levels have fallen before, but not as badly as this. This time, the sand is clearly visible, especially near the bridge, forcing fishermen to suspend their fishing and prawning activities,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Ali Aznan said Sungai Perak in the area provides a source of additional income for small-scale fishermen from several nearby villages, including Kampung Tepus, Copin, and Kampung Tua, who rely on it to supplement their livelihoods.

“The water level downstream is likely to recover only if heavy rain falls upstream, especially around Gerik, because rain here is not enough.

“If it rains upstream, insya-Allah, the water level will rise. But if it only rains here, it won’t make much difference,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gunung Semanggol and Selinsing Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK) business manager Roslina Mustafa said padi farmers and other local growers were also facing water shortages in their agricultural areas.

“The ongoing drought since late last year is affecting padi farmers in Gunung Semanggol and Selinsing. The water near Bukit Merah catchment area has gone down, and with little rain since November, there’s less water for the padi fields,” she said.

She said the authorities have put an irrigation schedule in place, but even with water being released in stages, it’s still not enough to meet the needs of all the padi fields, especially those on higher ground.

“Only low-lying areas around Selinsing and parts of Semanggol are still receiving water, while farmers in other areas have to rely on pumps to irrigate their padi fields.

“This prolonged drought has not only affected the rice planting process but has also caused the soil to become uneven when heavy machinery is used in dry conditions, impacting the padi fields,” she said.

Earlier, State Infrastructure, Energy, Water and Public Transport Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state Department of Irrigation and Drainage has applied for cloud-seeding operations around Tasik Temengor and the Bukit Merah Dam as a strategic measure to increase the chances of rainfall.

--BERNAMA