Irrigation Dept tightens water distribution to cope with drought in the Chao Phraya basin

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Irrigation Dept tightens water distribution to cope with drought in the Chao Phraya basin

BANGKOK, 24 June 2015 (NNT) – The Irrigation Department has resoved to decrease water distribution to the Chao Phraya Basin, home of nearly one million rai of agricultural land, says Deputy Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Suthep Noipairoj.

Around 850,000 rai of land in the basin is now in risk of water shortage due to inadequate level of water in major dams - Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bamroongdan, and Pa Sak Jolasid.

The RID has decided to decrease the amount of water to be released to the Chao Phraya Basin by 5 million cubic meters from the current volume of 33 million cu/m. per day. Starting today, 2 million cu/m. of water will be cut from the supply until it falls to 28 million cu/m per day on Monday, June 29. From that day on, the supply will remain stable until August.

The Deputy Director-General said the new measure is launched with full support from local administrative and security officials. They will work alongside the Department of Groundwater Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the drilling of new ground water wells.

According to Suthep, about 7.45 million rai of land in the Chao Phraya Basin has been reserved for agriculture. Out of that area, 3.44 million rai has been planted with new crops even before the official announcement requesting farmers’ cooperation to suspend the annual rice crop. After the announcement, half a million more rai is planted, but it was in areas with sufficient water. Around 3.45 million rai of land is left uncultivated due to no water supply from the irrigation system.


-- NNT 2015-06-24

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Cut water use to the minimum now, make improvements to dams and catchment areas

upstream that will mitigate effects of drought in the future. The rain will return in the future

and so will drought conditions. Improvements will help protect against flooding, drought,

and put money into the economy in a down time in an effective useful project.