Drought Hits Ubon, Phichit, Phuket

[george]

Drought hits Ubon, Phichit, Phuket

Dry spell starts earlier than normal this year

BANGKOK: -- Drought has gripped many parts of Thailand, hitting Ubon Ratchathani, Phichit and Phuket earlier than usual this year. In Ubon Ratchathani, water levels in Lamnam Seibai, a tributary of the Chi river, have fallen rapidly and it has even dried up in some spots. The river bed is partly visible in tambons Nong Bo and Nong Khon of Muang district.

The drought, triggered by a shortage of rainfall last year, has been aggravated by the dry weather in the winter season. Over 10 fish farms have been forced to shut while floating restaurants have been relocated to the banks of the dry river.

Nong Bo tambon administration organisation has asked the provincial administration to find ways to help store water for cattle raisers and introduce crops with low water consumption to farmers.

Suksan Boontosaeng, chief of Ubon Ratchathani disaster prevention and mitigation office, advised the public to cut down on water consumption and have water containers ready to store water in case it rains.

Elsewhere, severe drought has continued to ravage Phichit. Water levels were so low in Pho Prathap Chang district that people could walk cross the Yom river.

Normally, the Yom river would dry up during March-April. With drought arriving early this year, farmers were concerned about their paddy and crops, which rely on water from the river.

Yields may be low this year as the crops began to wither. Farmers have requested urgent assistance from the authorites.

In Phuket, a tap water shortage has forced many hotels to ration water consumption for guests. They have been forced to buy water from private suppliers at steep prices.

Yesterday, about 30 hotel operators met with Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangura to seek help in easing the tap water shortage.

The falling water supply was a pressing problem for businesses and communities in Patong, Kata and Karon beaches.

Around 70 hotels on the island buy up to eight million baht of water from private suppliers each month, said Panu Maswongsa, the assistant managing director of the Patong Resort Hotel.

The Provincial Waterworks Authority attributed the sharp jump in water demand mainly to the high tourist season, he said. Occupancy rate for hotels in Phuket currently averages 85%.

''Tourists are frustrated with our restricted water supply. We have got to find ways to get by. It's been pretty bad for our image though. Our competitive edge will plunge given high water costs,'' said Pattanapong Ake-wanich, chairman of the Phuket Tourism Association.

Sayan Waree-arunrat, chief of the Phuket Waterworks Office, said the Bangwad reservoir now held about five million cubic metres of water. It is only able to supply 1,000 cubic metres of water a day compared with the daily demand that tops 1,500 cubic metres.

The office is seeking funds to purchase three million cubic metres of fresh water but the amount is still expected to fall short of demand in April and May, the height of summer.

The Phuket governor was certain that the water shortage problem was here to stay and he urged the government to step in to help.

-- Bangkok Post 2006-01-11

[Ned]

Drought already and not much rain likely for at least another 6 months! It was my understanding that there's been a lot of construction work going on in Phuket lately. If they haven't got enough now, then what do they expect is going to happen later? I realise we've all got to dwell in the present but.......

[sonthaya]

I have been hearing so many complaints about the wet weather in December, how can we allready be talking about drought.