Next Year's Drought To Be Worse, Minister Warns

[george]

Next year's drought to be worse, Agriculture Minister warns water officials

BANGKOK: -- Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan called an emergency meeting Sunday in an effort to resolve the country's perennial drought in the northeast.

Senior officials supervising water resources in 25 major waterways and projects--including nthe Royal Irrigation Department--met Khunying Sudarat who told them the current water crisis will not go away without their improved management and efficiency in using the kingdom's water resources.

The nation's water officials must work together effeectively and efficiently, she said, as there is strong likelihood that drought will hit even harder next year.

The Minister of Agriculture told the officials that although the Irrigation Department is the line agency in charge of water management, it must coordinate and liaise effectively with other state agencies. All agencies must rethink strategy to be prepared to handle the drought next year – which is projected to be worse than that of this year.

After the meeting, Khunying Sudarat said she will seek Cabinet approval for an additional budget of 23 million to build yet more water storage facilities.

The 23 million baht for more water storage facilities such as dykes and dams is necessary because drought can arrive as early as January 2006 and the existing plan is insufficient, she said.

Khunying Sudarat said the thrust of the solution is that rain water must be retained at the maximum level possible.

--TNA 2005-08-29

[Jai Dee]

... as there is strong likelihood that drought will hit even harder next year.

Great... some more good news to look forward to....

[Jai Dee]

PM THAKSIN HAS INDICATED THAT WATER SHORTAGE PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED SOON

The Prime Minister has asserted that the water shortage in the eastern region will be dealt with soon, while instructing the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister to restore the damaged forest areas, particularly on SAMUI (สมุย) Island and in the northern region.

Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA stated in his weekly radio address that the Underground Water Development project (โครงการพัฒนาน้ำบาดาล) will help solve the water shortage crisis for the industrial sector in the eastern region of Thailand. At the moment, the Water Resources Department has excavated an artesian well, which has a capacity of approximately 140,000 cubic metres. The government will provide enough water for consumption, agricultural and industrial purposes. However, the first priority is water consumption, which is followed by agricultural purposes. The Prime Minister also expects the quantity of rainfall to increase, and the artificial rainmaking operations will also be continued.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said he has instructed concerned officials in provincial areas to solve the forest intrusion problems and find the trespassers for further punishment accordingly.

Source: thaisnews.com

[meelousee]

The 23 million baht for more water storage facilities such as dykes and dams is necessary because drought can arrive as early as January 2006 and the existing plan is insufficient, she said.

This is September and I thought the drought was on us now

Is this an typo?

This is September aint it?

Am I lost

[davethailand]

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW THEN

You've had 2 years already.

[Pattaya_Fox]

It was only a few weeks ago that Thaksin said that there was no water shortage in the eastern region. So it seems that he has now brought his head above water and can see that there is a major problem.

Does he actually mention how much if any water is in this well.

It has a capacity of 140,000 cubic metres. Is it full to capacity, and once used will it fill up naturally through its impervious strata or this this just another delaying tactic whilst the government joins with the rest of the flock praying for rain?

[chownah]

Pumping large quantities of ground water always seems like a good solution to these types of problems but they need to do some investigation first...it can result in land subsidence, draw down of water table level (causing increased pumping costs), and/ or salt water intrustion (which would make the well useless if it happened and could theoretically make all the wells in the area useless!).

[Jai Dee]

THE ‘KAENG SUA TEN’ DAM PROJECT WILL REACH A CONCLUSION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyut Tiyapairat has expressed confidence that the construction project of "Kaeng Sua Ten" Dam will reach a conclusion by the end of this year.

Concerning the government’s development master plan for 25 basins across the country, Mr. Yongyut said everything is progressing well. The project is currently under the study process in 2 major basins of the Eastern Seaboard region. They are the Ping and Moon Rivers, and the development plans for this area has already been drawn up. However, it has to be proposed to the Prime Minister for further consideration before being implemented. In the remaining 22 basins, the master plan is expected to be completed by the end of next month.

Referring to the "Kaeng Sua Ten" Dam project, he revealed that it is a part of this master plan that requires a conclusion on whether to build it or not before the end of this year. Mr. Yongyut added that the development master plan for the 25 basins is designed to help resolve the current water crisis and flooding in many areas across the country.

Source: thaisnews.com