Drought crisis: Thai govt mulling emergency decree

[webfact]

DROUGHT
No water for farming
The Nation


A boat noodle shop sits on a dried-up canal bed in Pathum Thani province.

Chao Phraya River resources to be used only for tap water and to sustain ecology; government mulling emergency decree

BANGKOK: -- AMID FALLING water levels in the Chao Phraya River, water distribution will be halted for the agricultural sector from today, the Royal Irrigation Department said, adding all water will be allocated for domestic use and to sustain the ecology.

The Water Watch and Monitoring System for Warning Centre revealed the measure to save the scarce water supply in the Chao Phraya River basin. Of the total 18 million cubic metres of water discharged every day, 5 million cubic metres will be used for tap-water production, while the remaining 13 million cubic metres will be to sustain the ecology and resist salt water invasion.

As criticism grew that farmers have to suffer crop damage in order to let tap water run in the city, Agriculture Minister Pitipong Peungboon na Ayuthaya said, "Everyone is using tap water, not only Bangkokians." Pitipong denied that farmers' interests were being sacrificed to let the people in Bangkok use tap water, saying everyone uses tap water and the water comes from the same source, the Chao Phraya River.

"It's not only the people in Bangkok who have been affected by the current tap-water shortage but people in other provinces as well. I don't want everyone to think that way, as we all consume water from the Chao Phraya River except those who use water from wells," he said.

He further revealed that there was a suggestion for an emergency decree on the drought situation to raise public attention to the issue but this will be discussed further as per the Cabinet procedure.

"The Cabinet is concerned that the drought will prolong until next April and the focus should be on planning water usage ahead until next April because we have been using too much water for many years," he said.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda yesterday ordered provincial governors to be in charge of water management in their provinces by working in cooperation with police, soldiers, the Royal Irrigation Department and other related agencies to avoid damage to horticulture.

"I know that this is hard work, but the governors have to inform the farmers about the importance of the current water distribution plan and ask them not to pump water into their paddy fields. The governors also have to prepare for crop damage assessment as well," Anupong said.

He also encouraged the governors to limit the impact on orchards as a result of the water cut to the agricultural sector.

As a result of the ban on the use of water in the agricultural sector, it was reported that the farmers in Ayutthaya's Lad Bualuang district have to buy water from water trucks to save their rice crop, which will be ready for harvest soon. A local reporter revealed that the price of water per truck was Bt800.

In Lop Buri's Ban Mi district, soldiers and local authorities asked farmers to stop pumping water from Chainat-Pasak Canal into their fields.

The farmers have heeded the request but they also asked for their share of water after there is enough water for domestic use because they had invested Bt5,000 per rai of land for cultivation

while the government compensation was only Bt2,000-Bt3,000 per rai.

The Provincial Waterworks Authority reported that as of yesterday, tap water service in Saraburi's Phra Phutthabat district has been suspended because there was no raw water reaching the pumping station, while there were also nine other areas where the tap-water service was disrupted.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-water-for-farming-30264549.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-16

[ezzra]

Here's an idea, use the new submarines to go deep in the earth crust and look for water...

Or, look for knowledge and new thinking how to manage , save and reuse water,

go to Israel and learn from them, the only country in the world that went from water

crisis to water surplus in a few years on ingenuity, inventions and new thinking....

[GiantFan]

Are they just now putting a plan together to deal with water shortages if the rains don't come until next April?

Should have been done a while ago. Pain free measures like car washing, etc... should be immediately put

into place. Duh.

[robblok]

As others have said with all those dry canals hire some of the unemployed farmers and a load of heavy machines and clean those canals.

[robblok]

Its logic.. tap water is far more important then farming water. There is enough rice so no shortages of food.. but shortages of water would hit the poor real hard. Many use those water stations that are everywhere in villages. These use tap water and filter it.. no tap water means poor people everywhere have to buy water.

I have lived a few times without water (broken pipes) I can tell you that is real bad not being able to flush toilets and so on. The farmers have been told not to plant many times. They planted anyway.. they lost that is what farming is about taking risks.

If farming is so bad some farmers should really switch (many will be forced too). I feel for the farmers but its not of the last year that farming pays bad.. its been the same for many years and only large farms survive.

[alant]

"As a result of the ban on the use of water in the agricultural sector, it was reported that the farmers in Ayutthaya's Lad Bualuang district have to buy water from water trucks to save their rice crop, which will be ready for harvest soon. A local reporter revealed that the price of water per truck was Bt800."

Where does that water come from then?

"In Lop Buri's Ban Mi district, soldiers and local authorities asked farmers to stop pumping water"

ASKED???

I still think a large part of this problem is and will remain greed and selfish behaviour. I will grow crop after crop and to hell with the rest of you.

[robblok]

"As a result of the ban on the use of water in the agricultural sector, it was reported that the farmers in Ayutthaya's Lad Bualuang district have to buy water from water trucks to save their rice crop, which will be ready for harvest soon. A local reporter revealed that the price of water per truck was Bt800."

Where does that water come from then?

"In Lop Buri's Ban Mi district, soldiers and local authorities asked farmers to stop pumping water"

ASKED???

I still think a large part of this problem is and will remain greed and selfish behaviour. I will grow crop after crop and to hell with the rest of you.

Greed is a bit too hash its not like farmers are wealthy. They need the crop to get some money to pay off their bills. They don't have much of it without a crop they will be in financial trouble.

However no tap water is a health risk and could kill people the potential for deaths and stuff from no tap water is far greater.

[Seastallion]

Here's an idea, use the new submarines to go deep in the earth crust and look for water...

Or, look for knowledge and new thinking how to manage , save and reuse water,

go to Israel and learn from them, the only country in the world that went from water

crisis to water surplus in a few years on ingenuity, inventions and new thinking....

So...you're suggesting Thailand invade Burma and steal their water?

[Seastallion]

As others have said with all those dry canals hire some of the unemployed farmers and a load of heavy machines and clean those canals.

It's essential. While they are dry, clean them, and DEEPEN them. As deep as is logistically possible. Narrow, deep water reserves stay around longer than shallow wide reserves.

[Usernames]

Stop telling them to do this and that, because they are not going to do anything.

[robblok]

As others have said with all those dry canals hire some of the unemployed farmers and a load of heavy machines and clean those canals.

It's essential. While they are dry, clean them, and DEEPEN them. As deep as is logistically possible. Narrow, deep water reserves stay around longer than shallow wide reserves.

Yes that is what i was getting at.. I mean now is a prime time to take action. Perhaps there is a shortage of bulldozers and such. It would cost far less to do it now then to dredge it. This would also be faster.

[WitawatWatawit]

QUOTE:

"

"The Cabinet is concerned that the drought will prolong until next April ..."

... when the next dry season begins and ... conditions are ripe for the next drought ... and, the cycle starts again.

[LoongJohn]

It seems only a few weeks ago that there was a problem with flooding...

[Oziex1]

What happened to drilling ten thousand wells for farmers, or was it ten million?

Off you go just do it, problem sorted overnight.

[Srikcir]

"sustain the ecology"

No water for growing food to sustain farmer but water to keep lawns green.

There's something wrong with the Junta's priorities.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

It is now too late to prepare for the drought as its already here. Rather start to prepare for the next flood.

The situation Bkk are in is dire there are very few short term options available. Pipelines, water recycling plants and desalination plants all take time to build, time which Bkk dont have. The only way would be (if available) divert water from another water basin into the C P water basin. If such a project is not possible then water will have to be trucked in from the east and south.

Again this whole crap position is due to incompetent civil servants thats unable to function without been told what to do (same as in 2011).

[lockman]

13 million for "ecology" and to resist salt water intrusion. How about gates to resist the intrusion and then

grow some food.

[MESmith]

What happened to drilling ten thousand wells for farmers, or was it ten million?

Off you go just do it, problem sorted overnight.

Brilliant. Let's pump out the ground water to flood rice fields. And when the aquifer runs dry? Time to diversify crops grown.

[webfact]

Water discharge to central plains being reduced; irrigation feed stopped

BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 (NNT) – Water discharge from the four major reservoirs feeding the Chao Phaya plains will be reduced beginning today, whereas no water will be provided to irrigation networks, in an effort to ensure that the supply for tap water lasts until the rainy season is in full swing.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday the government needed to give priority to supplying water for consumption, at the expense of water for irrigation. He said he sympathized with farmers who were facing water shortages and that the government was seeking ways to assist them.

Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, the minister of agriculture and cooperatives, disclosed that water feed to the Chao Phraya plains from the four major dams will be reduced by 2 million cubic meters per day beginning today (July 16). The daily discharge will be scaled back from 28 million cubic meters per day, until it reaches 18 million cubic meters a day.

Water pumping stations are now banned from diverting water into the irrigation network. However, permission may be sought to channel water into the irrigation network for purposes of feeding tap water production or other purposes save for agriculture.

Tak provincial governor Somchai Hatthayatanti also revealed on Wednesday there was only 143 million cubic meters of water available for discharge from Bhumibol Dam, one of the four major dams feeding the country's central plains.


-- NNT 2015-07-16

[webfact]

Water cut for farming sector in Chao Phraya river basin begins today as water shortage remains critical



BANGKOK: -- Beginning today, water supply to irrigation system for farming sector in the Chao Phraya river basin will be cut by almost half of earlier supply to ensure that there will be enough raw water for producing tap water for consumption in urban areas until the late arrival rainy season returning normal early next month.

The reduction of water releases from four major dams to feed farming sector from 28 million cubic metres to 18 million cubic metres into the irrigation system through the Chao Phraya dam is expected to hurt farmers in the Chao Phaya plains where their planted rice crops may die if no rain falls during the period before early August when authorities voiced confidence rains will come

However yesterday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stressed that the government needed to give priority to supplying water for consumption, at the expense of water for irrigation.

Although he was sympathised with farmers who were facing water shortages, but he said that the government was seeking other remedial ways to assist them.

Meanwhile Agriculture Minister Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya said that water feed to the Chao Phraya plains from the four major dams would be reduced by two million cubic metres per day beginning today.

At the same time authorities will also restrict pumping of water from irrigation canals for farming with daily patrols along the canals.

However, permission may be sought to channel water into the irrigation network for purposes of feeding tap water production or other purposes save for agriculture.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/water-cut-for-farming-sector-in-chao-phraya-river-basin-begins-today-as-water-shortage-remains-critical


-- Thai PBS 2015-07-16

[dcsw53]

Maybe they could calm the farmers down by starting a water pledging scheme. Set the price for delivery of a water truck so the farmers can place orders. All that needs to happen is that the water is then delivered from a central store somewhere.

I know the ideal lady to head this operation, as soon as she sorts out a few small legal matters she could take control.

[sammygood]

people, this is a great opportunity to clean out the clongs before the next flood ... much cheaper & faster

hope the PM reads this

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[fareastguy]

The Water Watch and Monitoring System for Warning Centre... what exactly have they been watching & monitoring for over the last few months???

Now the proverbial "horse has bolted" it's time to do something !!!

Too little too late... same old same old Thailand !!

No change = suffer & weep as usual !!

[Usernames]

All this means is that the next flood will be worse than the last. Because of this mismanaged drought, the next time the dams are full, the authorities will not let a drop out until water is cresting over the top of the dams.

[robblok]

"sustain the ecology"

No water for growing food to sustain farmer but water to keep lawns green.

There's something wrong with the Junta's priorities.

How is it the junta's priority, they are talking about tap water for the people. They can't police everyone what they do with that water just like they cant find all the farmers that still use water.

You love blaming the junta but not everything is in their control.

Here in my village they still water the lawn too.. but this water comes from a canal not from the tap. How do you know where the water comes from. ?

[AlphMichaels]

Let's hope the Cloud Seeding efforts the last 90+ days kick in. (Not adding a ROFLMAO emoticon)

[silent]

Stop telling them to do this and that, because they are not going to do anything.

Not true! The trick is how to overcome resistance to farang intelligence and helping someone with the authority think of it as their idea, instead of the thought just going in one ear and out the other without stopping in the vacancy between them.

Come to think of it, it might be easier if we all got together and prayed for the second coming, or at least another 40 days and 40 nights.

[Oziex1]

What happened to drilling ten thousand wells for farmers, or was it ten million?

Off you go just do it, problem sorted overnight.

Brilliant. Let's pump out the ground water to flood rice fields. And when the aquifer runs dry? Time to diversify crops grown.

Yes time for some real scientific research into the most suitable sustainable crops, agriculture has been changed and improved around the world.

Why not here?

[silent]

What happened to drilling ten thousand wells for farmers, or was it ten million?

Off you go just do it, problem sorted overnight.

Brilliant. Let's pump out the ground water to flood rice fields. And when the aquifer runs dry? Time to diversify crops grown.

Excellent idea. Shouldn't take that long to get enough potatoes growing to feed the country. Ah hell, let'em eat cake instead

[Varangkul]

What happened to drilling ten thousand wells for farmers, or was it ten million?

Off you go just do it, problem sorted overnight.

Brilliant. Let's pump out the ground water to flood rice fields. And when the aquifer runs dry? Time to diversify crops grown.

When the aquifer runs dry - - - the roads collapse!