Drought Hit Selangor,Malaysia's Most Populous State Rations Water

Authorities began rationing water to thousands of households in Malaysia's most populous state on Tuesday, as a dry spell depletes reservoirs across a country normally known for its steady tropical downpours.

Much of Malaysia has for a month been under bone-dry conditions and high temperatures that have left some reservoirs at "critical" levels, sparked an increase in brushfires and led to protests in at least one hard-hit community near the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia does tend to experience dry weather early in the year, but this one is unusually long.

The lack of significant rainfall has caused increasing alarm, particularly in the state of Selangor, which surrounds Kuala Lumpur, and adjacent areas, as meteorologists have warned the dry spell could last another month.

Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state and its economic and industrial hub and Water rationing in the state will affect an estimated 45,000 households.Residents in the Selangor town of Balakong have complained for weeks about taps running dry and last week about 200 residents staged a protest calling on authorities to provide water

The State of Negeri Sembilan, adjacent to Selangor, last week declared a water crisis, mobilising to supply treated water to thousands of households.