Northeast Drought Worst In 40 Years

[george]

Northeast drought worst in 40 years; Mekong thirst quencher proposed

KHON KAEN: -- A critical lack of rainfall in the northeastern region this year means that the Ubonrat dam here is storing far less water than required for minimum requirements in its distribution area, while this and several adjacent provinces are now confronting the most severe drought in the past four decades.

The government has been asked to draw off excess waters from the Mekong River to meet the critical need, according to the head of a non-governmental organization here.

Kitthithai Kanapaniskasem, chairman of the Water Quality of Life Foundation, said that insufficient rainfall had put Khon Kaen and several other northeastern provinces to face with the worst drought experienced here in forty years.

Before this month's substantial rains, the Ubonrat dam contained only an estimated 25 million cubic metres of water -- only 3 per cent of the giant dam's capacity. Nineteen days of sustained rainfall has more than doubled the water supply, adding only another 4 per cent of its capacity, when 10 or 20 times that volume of water is needed for the millions of people in the multiprovincial zone which surrounds it.

Water stored at Ubonrat dam is now only 56 million cubic metres -- 7 per cent of total capacity. The water which flowed the dam during August 1-19 was only 31 million cubic metres -- which officials welcomed but consider far too little for actual needs.

If the critical water supply situation is not addressed, he explained, there will be no water for consumption, Mr. Kitthithai said.

In the past this major dam has been able to store about 800 million cubic metres of water every September due to heavy rains resulting in waterflow into it from an extensive catchment area, he said.

But sustained drought means that even with the substantial rains so far this month, without heavy rain through next month, the waters in the dam are sufficient for only two months consumption, he said, and then the dam is empty.

As the situation has worsened, Mr. Kitthithai said, he petitioned the government through Premsak Piayura, deputy chairman of natural resources and the environment of the House of Representatives, who had inspected the drought situation in Khon Kaen seeking an urgent solution.

He said he had asked the government to divert excess water from the Mekong River--now at flood stage--for storage at Ubonrat dam in order to alleviate the hardship of the people.(

--TNA 2005-08-22

[ilyushin]

Hope they can address the issue quickly and with some outsider assistance. Get all the Mekong nations together pronto.

[george]

Drought, floods hit Northeast

Some villages almost dry, as others mop up

The Northeast is experiencing a weird weather phenomenon as some provinces are facing the severest drought in decades while others situated along the Mekong river have been battling floods as the water level rises.

Kitthai Khanapanichkasem, president of the Water and Living Quality Foundation in Khon Kaen province, said many northeastern provinces were struggling with their most serious drought in four decades. Rain was meagre, and fell mostly outside their reservoirs.

Only 565 million cubic metres of water is left in the reservoir of the Ubonrat dam in Khon Kaen, just 25% of its capacity of 2,264 million cu/m. The water intake of the dam is meagre, just 31 million cubic metres during Aug 1-19, Mr Kitthai said.

Rainstorms usually come in September and the dam is likely to get 800 million cu/m of water during that period. If the weather does not oblige, there will only be enough water left for two months of consumption, Mr Kitthai warned.

He proposed the government direct water from the Mekong river to the dam.

Muang and Huai Rat districts of Buri Ram province are battling drought. More than 1,000 rai of rice fields are already damaged in Ban Phai Noi village in Muang district.

Villagers must continue their daily life by fishing in local, now shallow, canals. Some have left for Bangkok and other provinces for work.

Tap water production in Muang and Huai Rat districts is running out of raw water as the reserve in the Huai Jorakaymark reservoir, the tap water source, measures only 2.6 million cu/m, the smallest amount in 48 years. The amount usually stands at 18 million cu/m.

Irrigation officials are dredging an irrigation canal of the reservoir to prepare to take water from the Mat river in Lam Plai Mat district.

In Surin province, the combined reserve in its 20 reservoirs stands at 71.45 million cu/m, only 48.79% of their overall capacity.

Worawut Kruathongsri, irrigation chief of Surin, said the amount of rain was the smallest in a decade.

The reserve in the Huai Khaneng reservoir which feeds tap water production to Muang Surin municipality stands at just 30% of total capacity.

The provincial irrigation office has decided to stop discharging water for first-crop rice farms and fish farms.

In the meantime, the Mekong river, which received excessive water in its upstream section from heavy rain early this month, has overflowed into more than 400 villages, affecting 3,681 families and 52,000 rai of farm land in Nakhon Phanom province.

The water level in the river rose to 13 metres in the province yesterday. The water level was the same in Mukdahan province, where part of the Muang Mukdahan municipality was flooded.

In Ubon Ratchathani province, the level was higher, at 14.89 metres, and flooded about 1,000 rai of farm land and 20 houses.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-22

[george]

WATER BLUES / STRANGE WEATHER PATTERNS

Govt solution to water crisis `killing farmers'

BANGKOK: -- The government has failed to provide a balanced solution to the water crisis in the eastern provinces, according to local activists who say the current strategy is ``saving factories'', but ``killing farmers''.

Paithoon Pratiwat, representing a network of water users in Rayong, said the province used about a million rai for farming and that the demand for water in the province had been growing yearly.

The Prasae reservoir was constructed to serve agriculture's demand for water; however, the main priority at present is to meet strong demand for water from the industrial sector, he said.

The reservoir has a capacity of 248 million cubic metres but is currently only holding 42.30 million cu/m.

The government has been planning to divert water from the Prasae reservoir by laying 34km of pipeline to the Klong Yai reservoir, which should be completed in a matter of months. In addition, 17km of pipeline from the Klong Yai reservoir to Nong Pla Lai reservoir where the East Water company draws its water to supply the industrial sector would be completed soon.

``Before diverting our water to another sector, the government should be sure that the agricultural sector and local people have enough water for their daily use,'' said Mr Paithoon during a press conference on water crisis in the eastern provinces held by the Campaign for Popular Democracy. ``We would like to see equality between the agricultural and industrial sectors. But now we feel the government is considering us as a burden for the country. The government is helping the industrial sector as its first priority because it is only concerned about getting more foreign investment.''

Sompong Pungpae, another activist based in Rayong, said his life depended on underground water, but now water in his community was being diverted to help industrial zones.

He questioned whether the government had all the necessary information on water use both in agriculture and industry and wondered why the government ignored the problem until it became a crisis.

He accused the government of solving the problem without respecting the rights of local communities.

Meanwhile, Sootdhi Atchasai, a representative from the network of Rayong's water users, blamed East Water's poor management. He said the firm only knew where to get water, but had failed to replenish supplies in case there was a crisis.

He said the waterworks in Rayong was now unable to provide daily water supplies for people living in Map Ta Phut and Ban Chang because water first had to be supplied to the industrial sector.

He said annual rainfall once stood at 2,500mm per year, and there had once been 120 days of rain per year. But this had fallen to less than 1,300mm per year over recent years and since the industrial zone became operational resulting in severe drought over a number of years.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-22

[Jai Dee]

He said annual rainfall once stood at 2,500mm per year, and there had once been 120 days of rain per year. But this had fallen to less than 1,300mm per year over recent years and since the industrial zone became operational resulting in severe drought over a number of years.

Interesting statistics... but I think you'll find that the rainfall has been less than average for a couple of years now...

And of course, the industrial estates have expanded and thus consumption has increased, but the government has done nothing to provide additional infrastructure (particularly wrt water reserves) to cater for it.

[Scott]

Fire and water--they make good servants, but poor masters.

[bannork]

In Udon Thani province, Sakon Nakhon, Nong Khai, there's been plenty of rain, has it died out further south?

[Jai Dee]

THE IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT HAS DISCLOSED THE DROUGHT SITUATION AT THE MOMENT

The Department of Irrigation has asked the general public to use water more efficiently, and warned farmers to cultivate seasonal rice instead. The department has also announced measures to increase the water levels in BHUMIBOL (ภูมิพล) and SIRIKIT (สิริกิติ์) Dams.

Mr. SAMART CHOKEKANAPITAK (สามารถ โชคคณาพิทักษ์), the Director-General of the Irrigation Department, indicated that the water supplies in many areas, particularly in TUB SELA, LUM TAKONG and LUM PHRAPLOENG (ทับเสลา ลำตะคอง ลำพระเพลิง) Dams, are only sufficient for public consumption only. Thus, the Irrigation Department is cooperating with the drought-hit provinces to increase the water levels in their respective water sources.

The department is also planning to increase the quantity of water in BHUMIBOL and SIRIKIT Dams, after His Majesty the King has shown concern over the drought problems. The department disclosed that the water levels in both dams can affect the water consumption for next year. The BHUMIBOL Dam is currently holding 45 percent of its capacity, while the SIRIKIT Dam is holding about 58 percent. However, artificial rainmaking operations are being carried out in both areas.

In the meantime, the electricity generating authority is also determining the quantity of water being released for public use, in order to save a certain amount of water for future use.

Source: thaisnews.com

[george]

Northeast gripped by drought

BANGKOK: -- Drought continues to ravage the Northeast of the country with nearly 700,000 rai of farmland in Chaiyaphum province still dry, Khon Kaen planning an early drought crisis announcement and Nakhon Ratchasima preparing to make more rainmaking flights.

Despite some recent heavy downpours in many districts, Chaiyaphum’s drought situation remains critical with 612,763 rai of paddy fields and 88,709 rai of farmland having no water at all, said Governor Praphakorn Samiti.

He said the province’s plan to build Prong Khunpetch Dam in Nong Bua Rawe district to tackle the drought was included in the government’s initiative to develop 25 river basins, which will be discussed next week.

Torrential rains also damaged 17 homes in Chatturat district, he said, and local authorities are assessing the damage and seeking ways to assist the villagers, Praphakorn said.

Khon Kaen Deputy Governor Seri Pichitsiri said the province might be forced to make an early drought crisis announcement.

Lack of rainfall has reached a critical level for rice farmers and the Ubolratana Dam, which is normally 70 per cent full in August with 2.263 billion cubic metres of water, is just 24-per-cent full. Seri said the dam is in the same situation as Chaiyaphum’s Chulabhorn Dam.

He said the Royal Rainmaking Office was asked to seed clouds every day to make rain for the dam.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, six aircraft belonging to the Royal Rainmaking Office embark on nine missions a day to shower chemicals in the skies over Lam Takong, Lam Prapleng, Lam Plai Mart, Lam Moon Bon and Lam Chae reservoirs.

Prasert Angsurat, director of the office, said the missions have produced rain but strong winds have prevented clouds from gathering and lowered the humidity.

Wittaya Wachira-angkun, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre Region 5, said water shortages were serious in Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum.

He said the centre has prepared 127 water trucks to deliver water to affected villagers and dig 180 underground water wells, but added that those measures are not sufficient.

--The Nation 2005-08-30

[Anek18]

It's raining almost everyday in Ubon..