Water very low in 9 major dams
THE disposable-water level at nine dams has already dropped below 10 per cent of their capacity, reflecting the severity of the drought Thailand is now facing.
These dams are Bhumibol, Sirikit, Mae Kuang Udom Thara, Ubolrat, Sirindhorn, Vajiralongkorn, Pasak Jolasid, Khundan Prakarnchon and Klong See Yad.
In the wake of imminent water shortage, authorities have now asked farmers in the Chao Phraya Basin to postpone growing rice.
“Please postpone it till late next month,” Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phungbun na Ayutthaya said yesterday.
He was speaking after emerging from a meeting with Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda and many high-level executives. The governors of 22 provinces in the basin also joined in via a video-conferencing system.
Water level is now running low at several dams. Located in Tak province, the Bhumibol Dam for example had just 363 million cubic metres of disposal water on Tuesday – or about three per cent of its capacity. Lying in Uttaradit province, the Sirikit Dam had just 697 million cubic metres of disposal water – or about seven per cent of its capacity. Both are major dams in Thailand.
Pairoj Thiangjan, a farmer in Uttaradit, said he had already received warnings about water shortage from the Royal Irrigation Department.
“So, I think I will wait till next month. By July, nature should bring rain for my paddy fields,” he said.
As of yesterday, drought had already hit 23 provinces.
In Nakhon Ratchasima province as many as 24 districts including Phimai are declared drought-hit zones.
“In the face of the drought crisis, we would like to encourage locals to use water economically during the next two months,” Praiwan Klamsuk said yesterday in his capacity as manager of Phimai Waterworks Office.
Somwang Parasuksarn, director of the Phitsanulok-based Kwai Noi Bamrungdan, said major dams had little disposable water left because rain had come late this year. “We may need to ask for rainmaking operations,” he said.
Living in Phitsanulok province, Thongdaeng Noirung said he needed to work in his paddy fields because he had to feed his family. “I must take a risk now,” he said.
