Rains have eased drought and forest fires

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Rains have eased drought and forest fires



BANGKOK: -- Rains in the past few days in most parts of the country have helped ease drought problem and have added more water in dams, said Royal Irrigation department chief Suthep Noipairote on Wednesday.

About 60 mm rainfalls were recorded in Kanchanaburi on Tuesday resulting to noticeable water increase in Srinakharind and Vachiralongkorn dams. Over 20 million cubic metres of water were estimated to have flowed into dams during May 17-18 “which is a healthy sign”, said Mr Suthep.

He disclosed a meeting was held with orchid farmers and fruit growers about a plan to channel water from the Tha Chine river into Klong Chinda to push back seawater which is threatening the plants.

With the onset of the rainy season which will bring more rains starting tomorrow, the irrigation department chief said the department would be able to manage water usage for farmers more effectively.

Mr Lersak Riewtrakulpaiboon, director-general of rain-making and agricultural aviation department, said that rains in the past few days had eased forest fires and haze in several provinces.

However, he said that rain-making operations would continue unabated to keep forest fires, especially at Toh Phru peat forest in Narathiwat, under control.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/163820


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-19