Ping River Drying Up In Early Drought

[ChiangMaiMail]

Ping River drying up in early drought

The water levels of the Ping River at the Ban Pa Daed bridge area in Tambon Pa Daed, Chiang Mai, have decreased dramatically with rocks emerging from the river.

Jedsadapong Wongkiew

As a result of early drought and heat, the level of the Ping River has dropped drastically, with levels so low that people can walk from one bank to the other.

Particularly in the area around the village of South Pa Daed, Ban Khor Klang, in Tambon Pa Daed, the river is so low that the river bed is visible in places.

Additionally, wells, ponds, and reservoirs are drying out, with pumps being used to pump water out of the Ping River to water field crops and vegetable gardens.

At the Ta Wangtan and Phayakham weir areas, some people have brought in large rocks and sand bags to dam the water.

Three districts; Om Koi, San Sai and Chai Prakarn, have been declared drought disaster areas by the Provincial government, 30,000 rai of agricultural land has suffered from the drought.

The Irrigation Department has brought in 57 water pumping machines to install along the Ping River to help spray water into the communities’ field crops, and plants.

The district office authorities in Chiang Mai Province are inspecting the areas hard hit by drought to estimate the needs for water containers to store water for use in community schools, temple, and other public places.

The Ping River at the Tha Wangtan weir area in Tambon Pa Daed, Chiang Mai is seeing at very shallow levels.

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-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/03/09

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Edited March 9, 2010 by ChiangMaiMail