Eastern Thailand faces severe drought

BANGKOK, September 30 (TNA) - While flooding has cast a gloom across Thailand, including the capital Bangkok, the northeastern province of Kalasin is now facing one of the most severe droughts in two decades. The Lam Pao reservoir now only has 506 million cubic metres of water or 25 percent of its total capacity, only 21 percent of which can be used. Officials add that only 665 million cubic metres of water flowed into the reservoir since January up till now compared to approximately 2,200 million cubic metres of water on average during the past years. A shortage in rainfall has been named the chief reason for the current hardship. Cash crop growers, including rice, tapioca and sugarcane, have been urged to temporarily postpone their business during this season due to insufficient water supply. In related news, Bangkok Governor Mom Rajawong Sukhumbhand Paribatra has identified 206 flood-prone areas in Bangkok. He says more than half of them have good drainage systems and can drain out excess water within an hour. However, he warns that rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres may cause parts of Bangkok to become clogged-up by water. (TNA)