P.M. Affirms Balanced Water Management In Dams

[Lite Beer]

PM affirms balanced water management in dams

BANGKOK, Aug 26 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra affirms water management in Thailand’s dams is balanced, and denied that drought in some areas resulted from too much release of water from dams.

Ms Yingluck said the relevant committee in charge of water released from dams had thoroughly considered water management plans to ensure balanced management that prevented flooding and drought, taking into account water usage for agriculture and the amount of rainfalls.

Water reserves from reservoirs and ground water have been prepared in case of water shortage.

The prime minister said that earlier water discharge from the dams have not caused any problems, as the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) agreed to do so to prepare capacity for anticipated rainfalls. However, water discharge has been reduced to create balance following less-than-expected precipitation.

Ms Yingluck’s remarks came after Pramote Maiklad, former director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department said that too much water discharge from major dams had caused drought in many areas.

Meanwhile, Kitti Tancharoen, deputy governor of the hydro power plants for Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), said that there 38.5 billion cubic metres of water held in EGAT’s dams, or about 17 percent less than the same time last year.

The water amount of two major dams – Bhumibol dam and Sirikit dam – is about 39 percent less than that of last year.

Ubonrat dam holds about 12 million cubic metres, so it needs to save water, and is awaiting more rain to replenish the water volume in the dam’s reservoir.

The EGAT and the irrigation department have been closely monitoring the water situation for systematic management. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-26

[waza]

It would make sense to connect the main dams in Thaialand and move water between them to conserve and regulate it.

[MaxLee]

September and October are the months to watch out for!!!! … oh well, where did I hear that before???

[necronx99]

Last years floods balanced out by this years drought.

Perfect harmony, stop sniping you lot.

[TwoDogz]

August is usually when our river floods...so far so goods

[bigbamboo]

This is what the people really want to hear from the PM...... assurances that the government actually has a handle on water management now.

Now let's just hope her information is more 'Korn' than 'Kittiratt'.

[TwoDogz]

Considering there is a drought and not so much water to manage, then she is doing a fine job.

[MaxLee]

Considering there is a drought and not so much water to manage, then she is doing a fine job.

Yes, that's exactly, Typical Thai face saving way to "solve a problem"... Just let it drought, so there won't be a flood....

[Moruya]

I'd be happier if she jumped into the tub with Archimedes for a few rounds or had someone with half the brains of IK Brunel on board.

Instead we get the halfwit Plodprasop, a bunch of empty assurances and billions of dollars in the syphon in place of water.

[scotbeve]

It would make sense to connect the main dams in Thaialand and move water between them to conserve and regulate it.

There were (forgive the pun) pipelines on the table but were laughed off by one administration...

[ResX]

The draw down for Sirkit and Bhimibol dam are pretty too much. Thailand water management experts prepared to take >10billion cubic meter of flood water from the these two dams this year without realizing that the odd is far smaller than 1% to get 7-day flood flow in the north to be above 10 billion cubic meter. I would say they should not draw down more than 7 billion cubic meters from these two dams if availability of raw water supply is an issue. Note that average annual rainfall in the north (For Sirkit & Bhumibol) is only ~15 billion cubic meters.

According to my estimate there are 2% chances that both dams in the north can only increase their storage by 20% by 1st Nov 2012.. If such scenario does not cause any water shortage then the draw down plan can be accepted. Otherwise going according to this drwa down plan you can expect Thailand water management experts are the persons who will decide to provide Thailand with flood or drought, but nothing in between....

[Jane Doe]

. . . Otherwise going according to this drwa down plan you can expect Thailand water management experts are the persons who will decide to provide Thailand with flood or drought, but nothing in between....

I would not be surprised to see drought AND flood...

[Moruya]

. . . Otherwise going according to this drwa down plan you can expect Thailand water management experts are the persons who will decide to provide Thailand with flood or drought, but nothing in between....

I would not be surprised to see drought AND flood...

I crossed the khlong prapa yesterday afternoon on Chaengwattana. The canal has recently raised earth banks and seems to be particularly full.

Is there something we are not being told?

[Pseudolus]

I crossed the khlong prapa yesterday afternoon on Chaengwattana. The canal has recently raised earth banks and seems to be particularly full.

Is there something we are not being told?

Yep - man the life rafts and run for the hills. You'll be told just as soon as the HiSo brigade have moved down to Hui Hin again (so the traffic does not interfere with them too much).