By Zareef Muzammil

SHAH ALAM, March 7 — The Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) uses drones to control 20 reservoirs and seven dams throughout the state from being encroached by irresponsible parties.

The agency informed that drones are regularly flown in areas gazetted as protection zones to identify laluan tikus (rat routes).

“Luas conducts monitoring using drones a minimum of 28 times a year with four (operations) in each pond or dam.

“However, additional monitoring is done based on needs or if there are complaints and issues,” he told SelangorKini.

Meanwhile, Luas said the last time a drone was flown at Sungai Tinggi Dam, Hulu Selangor was on February 18 and no intrusion was detected.

In the meantime, Luas said the last time a drone was flown at Sungai Tinggi Dam, Hulu Selangor was on February 18 and no intrusion was detected.

The agency involved asserted that it will not compromise on any individual who is detected to be trespassing in the protected zone area.

“If trespassers are detected, we will confiscate items such as boats, engines and tents in addition to closing the laluan tikus by putting up prohibition signs.

“If there is an illegal structure built, Luas will demolish it before issuing a notice, compound and even bringing it to prosecution,” it said.

Luas gazetted 20 ponds covering lakes and twelve mines and seven dams in the state as protected zones according to Section 48, Luas Enactment 1999.

Gazetted ponds and dams need to be preserved and protected from any form of disturbance in order to guarantee quality and quantity as an additional source of water in Selangor.