Drought hits northern Thailand; Stored water supplies dropping

PHICHIT: -- More than 200 farmers in the northern province of Phichit protested Sunday, demanding that the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) deepen provincial canals so that they can receive enough irrigation water for their rice crop as severe drought batters the region.

The protesting farmers gathered at a dyke in Sam Ngam district saying they held the RID responsible as over 10,000 rai of rice seedlings have already died because there is insufficient water for farming.

They petitioned the RID chief through the deputy department chief, urging him to give urgent help solve the water shortage problem. The protesters later dispersed without violence.

In Lampang province, severe drought is already parching 13 districts, and next month will be worse, unless relieved by the rains. Over 200,000 villagers are affected.

However, in Chiang Mai, more than 1,600 people in Hang Dong district are suffering after heavy rain and winds damaged their houses were damaged by a tropical storm late Friday. Officials have visited the area to provide assistance.

The northern region’s Meteorological Department warns that the lower North faces more thunderstorms in the next few days. Scattered showers will be seen between March 25-28.

Meanwhile, water stored at Sirikit dam in the northern province of Uttaradit now stood at only 5.8 billion cubic metres, or 61 per cent of the total capacity. The authorities are conserving water supplies, releasing only between 30-35 million cubic metres of water daily to help farmers as only five million cubic metres of water flows into the dam a day.

-- TNA 2009-03-22

I've been here for quite a few years and it's always the same: First there are floods and then there is drought. Seems like either better water conservation or more storage space is needed. (Or use less water in agriculture).

Meanwhile, water stored at Sirikit dam in the northern province of Uttaradit now stood at only 5.8 billion cubic metres, or 61 per cent of the total capacity. The authorities are conserving water supplies, releasing only between 30-35 million cubic metres of water daily to help farmers as only five million cubic metres of water flows into the dam a day.

as usual in those press releases, the figures don't match - the reservuar holds only 11 million cubic meters http://www.economy-point.org/q/queen-sirikit-dam.html

Meanwhile, water stored at Sirikit dam in the northern province of Uttaradit now stood at only 5.8 billion cubic metres, or 61 per cent of the total capacity. The authorities are conserving water supplies, releasing only between 30-35 million cubic metres of water daily to help farmers as only five million cubic metres of water flows into the dam a day.

as usual in those press releases, the figures don't match - the reservuar holds only 11 million cubic meters http://www.economy-point.org/q/queen-sirikit-dam.html

I think you should read a little further. The conservative estimate is that the lake will hold 9.5 billion cubic meters of water.

Edited March 24, 200917 yr by Gary A

that ammount of water holds a sea or ocean.

I would think somebody made a mistake/wrongly stranslated "millions" as "billions"