In a statement, Mada said the public need not panic over recent news reports about the dam’s decline in raw water storage, with the reservoir level at a critical 28.3%.

“To increase the water level in the dams, Mada has requested cloud seeding operations from the National Disaster Management Agency and the meteorological department,” it said.

“Mada will also maximise the use of reuse pump stations and optimise the use of uncontrolled water flows to conserve dam water release.”

The agency said the overall water level in the three Mada dams presently stands at 58.8%, with Pedu dam at 56.9%, Muda dam at 26% and Ahning dam at 85.1%.

These three dams support padi irrigation and domestic use in northern Kedah and southern Perlis, with water released from the Pedu and Ahning dams.

Mada also said any water release from the Muda dam will only occur if there is a request from the Kedah government, and that it will use pump stations and manage natural water flow to save water from the dams.

“The Muda dam functions as a balancing reservoir, channelling water to the Pedu dam via the Saiong tunnel,” it added.

Mada said it will close the Saiong tunnel to protect biodiversity if the water level in the Muda dam drops to 25,000 acre-feet (a measure of the volume of water that would cover an acre to a depth of one foot).