Northeast farmers told to refrain from off-season rice

The three other provinces affected are Nong Bua Lamphu, Kalasin and Maha Sarakham.

Songwut Kitkachornwut, director of Nongwai water-distribution and maintenance project, said Khon Kaen provincial water-management executives had resolved that farmers should refrain from planting off-season rice in the Nongwai irrigation zone from December 1 to April 30. 

The level of water in Ubonrat Dam stands at 781 million cubic metres or 32 per cent of total capacity, of which only 200 million cubic metres can be used. Farmers in the provinces of Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lampu, Kalasin and Maha Sarakham would be affected as the dam can only release 500,000 cubic metres of water daily, just enough for consumption and for maintaining the ecological system. 

The Lam Mat River, which flows from Buri Ram’s Lam Plai Mat district to meet Moon River in Nakhon Ratchasim’s Phimai district, has dried up in many areas. 

Tap water in nine villages that rely on this river has dried up and villagers now have to purchase water from water trucks. 

Sawat Hiewthaisong, 65, chief of the Ban Nong Bung village in Tambon Bot, Nakhon Ratchasima’s Phimai district said 3,000 households in Tambon Bot have barely enough water for consumption. 

Five dams in Nakhon Ratchasima are, on average, only 45 per cent full. Lamtakong Dam in Sikhiu district has 129 million cubic metres or 41 per cent of its total 314 million cubic metres. Lam Phraperng Dam in Pak Thong Chai district has 87 million cubic metres or 80 per cent of its total 110 million cubic metres. Khon Buri district’s Lam Chae Dam has 101 million cubic metres or 36 per cent of 275 million cubic metres, while its Moon Bon Dam has 50 million cubic metres or 35 per cent of 141 million cubic metres. Lam Plai Mat Dam in Soeng Sang district has 56 million cubic metres or 57 per cent of its total 98 million cubic metres.