Severe Drought Forecast For 18 Thai Provinces

[george]

Severe drought forecast for 18 Thai provinces

CHIANGMAI: -- Thailand's Department of Water Resources has forecast that 18 provinces across the nation will face drought, or at least a severe shortage of water, particularly in areas outside the irrigation service, according to Director General Siripong Hungspreug.

Mr. Siripong said that after the department evaluated the water situation all over the country, it estimated that during the coming dry season, the areas outside the irrigation service in 18 provinces would experience the water shortage and drought.

The affected provinces would scatter all over the country including the provinces in the southern region which had never face water shortage before, he said.

However, he expected that the degree of harshness would be similar to last year crisis, the Director General said.

After the floods over vast areas last year, many weakened dams and reservoirs were repaired in time to restore greater volumes of water for use during the dry season.

To prepare for the crisis, the department is coordinated the agencies concerned to distribute water to areas experiencing water shortfalls and launched a campaign to promote the more efficient use of water resources, he said.

--TNA 2007-02-08

[Jai Dee]

Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry prepares for severe drought

Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry is preparing to tackle the coming drought season by reserving pumps and plant seeds.

The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Thira Sutabutra (ธีระ สูตะบุตร) referred to the measures for handling drought situation. He said forecast reports show that there are about 7.2 million rai of plantation field that will be faced with severe drought. He informed that Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has prepared 1,200 pumps and 55 water trucks to deal with the situation. In addition, 8 centers of artificial rain operation have been set up in preparation for helping people and farmers during dry season as well.

Farmers have been suggested to grow plants that can be alive in the dry season.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Mahasarakham establishes drought center

Mahasarakham province has established a Drought Prevention and Mitigation Operations Center in preparation for the upcoming dry season.

The Mahasarakham governor, Mr. Chuan Sirinanporn (ชวน ศิรินันท์พร), revealed that the northeastern region of Thailand is experiencing cold and dry weather, in addition to scarcity of rain. This may result in especially severe droughts, with lacks of water for consumption, utility, and agriculture expected. The governor reports that in order to minimize drought effects, and reduce the burden to local residents, Mahasarakham province is establishing a Drought Prevention and Mitigation Center.

The Mahasarakham governor said that the center would be located at the Mahasarakham Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Center personnel can be reached at 04-377-7314.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Trat deploys feed pumps and water trucks to alleviate water shortage

Farmers in Khao Saming District (เขาสมิง), Trat Province, have lacked water supply as their fruit crops need water more water than usual during the beginning of this year’s harvest season.

Khao Saming District Chief Klanarong Phongcharoen (กล้าณรงค์ พงษ์เจริญ) has instructed local administrations in Tambon Sator (สะตอ) and Tambon Wang Takian (วังตะเคียน) to aid the farmers. The local administration in Tambon Sator has deployed three feed pumps to pump water from ponds to the farmers’ agricultural areas. Each village of the two Tambons has taken turn to use the pumps. More than 1,000 rai of fruit crops have already received the water supply. Mr Klanarong added that he had also called for water trucks from the provincial irrigation office to provide water for local residents.

In addition, Mr Klanarong said further that the province will divert water from the Klong Huoyrang (ห้วยแร้ง) Reservoir to Tambon Khao Saming. He also affirmed that the shortage of water supply will not be severe this year.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Tambon Wang Takian’s local administration, Chuchart Nakslak (ชูชาติ นาคสลัก), revealed that his Tambon still lacks ponds to store water during rain season. As a result, the local administration has to pump water from canals across the province to Tambon Wang Takian every year.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Department of Water Resources indicates drought in Chiang Mai this year will be less severe than last year

The Department of Water Resources has indicated that drought in Chiang Mai this year will be less severe than last year because water supply is believed to be sufficient.

Mr. Wittaya Thatthong (วิทยา ทัศน์ทอง ), Director of the Water Resources Office Region 1 in Lampang, said that this year's drought in Chiang Mai will be less severe because the northern province has been chosen a pilot province for the all-over-Thailand water supply scheme (โครงการนำร่องเรื่องน้ำประปาทั่วไทย), which ensures utmost supply capacity and helps alleviate drought crisis in the province.

Natural water sources and reservoirs, including those in the areas affected by flood in 2006, are being repaired. However Mr. Wittaya believes that water supply for Chiang Mai would be sufficient because as much as 80% of the province's water storage capacity has been fulfilled, which is more than any other years.

Mr. Wittaya added that Amphoe Praow (อำเภอพร้าว) in Chiang Mai is the most worrying drought risk area, because the locals there are still using underground water, causing depletion of water sources.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 February 2007

[billd766]

It happens in the Moo Ban where I live every year for a couple of months. 2 years ago the local/national government gave everybody 1 x 2,000 litre concrete water storage tank. It has been requested that we all dig fish ponds and the like but the one we dud a couple of years ago needs to be topped up on a regular basis.

The way that we do this plus topping our storage tanks is to pump from the stream under the road about 250 metres twice a weekor get the amphur tanker truck to come and deliver water from another stream at 450 baht a load twice a week. My normal water bill is less than 1,00 a month.

[Galong]

But according to the fair and balanced Fox News, all this global warming stuff is bunk.

Seriously, this is most likely only going to get worse. Feast or famine is in our futures. With all the building going on in Phuket, we'll need some flooding periodically in order to have water to every new shophouse, mansion, hotel and so on that's going on.

[Jai Dee]

DDPM prepares for drought season

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is collecting data on high risk areas to prepare for allocation of emergency funds to provinces during the drought season.

The Director General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Mr. Anucha Mokhavesa (อนุชา โมกขะเวส), said that authorities are preparing to handle droughts during the upcoming dry season. The director general said that the drought issue fell within his department's operational framework. Many provinces have been instructed to establish a Drought Prevention and Mitigation Center in order to coordinate with central agencies in handling drought incidents.

Mr. Anucha said that 50 million baht in emergency drought funds has been set aside for high risk provinces, and that provinces may draw from these funds when needed. The director general added that water pumps, tankers, and agricultural countermeasures to prevent water loss have been prepared.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 February 2007

[stevehaigh]

we only had about 4 good rains in the whole of the rainy season here in Ko Phangan. yet i still see the locals watering the road every day. i think we are going to have months without water down here. anyone know how to de-salinate sea water?