Upgrading of 140 hydrological stations, building of 107 new ones in Johor to be completed next year

ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 22 (Bernama) -- The Johor State Legislative Assembly was today informed that upgrading works on 140 hydrological stations as well as the construction of 107 new stations in Johor are underway and expected to be completed next year.

Johor Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman K Raven Kumar said the upgrading work is being carried out by the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN) under the Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

"The work of upgrading and building the new stations is to predict the occurrence of floods seven days in advance and issue a warning two days before the day of flooding.

"This will allow the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to make an immediate announcement to the affected area and to all public agencies and rescuers for the purpose of operational preparedness," he said during the winding up session at the Johor State Legislative Assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar, here, today.

On the release of dam water, Raven Kumar (BN-Tenggaroh) explained that DID has an Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manual for each dam.

He said the release of dam water is implemented in stages to ensure that the dam level is at 20 per cent below the normal level.

Raven Kumar added that the release of water from several dams in the state was done in stages before the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) started last October.

"DID is always committed to providing early warning to the local residents to prepare for any possible floods that may occur.

"The department will also inform the District Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) if the dam operator notices that the emergency level of the water reaches Level 2 as stated in the Emergency Action Plan," he said.

In addition, he said, warning sirens will also be activated in three phases with phases one and two being when the dam water level is at the warning level and phase three being when the dam water level is at the danger level.

"This warning siren has the ability to reach up to a two-kilometre radius depending on the local topographical conditions," he added.

The assembly sitting continues next Monday (March 27) following the public holidays of Awal Ramadan (tomorrow) and Sunday, to replace the official birthday of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, which also falls tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA