Mekong level on rise after China release water supply

NONG KHAI, March 19 (TNA) -- As China release water supply from its dam into the Mekong River, the water level along the river in Nong Khai has steadily increased, prompting for better river navigation, but causing worries among farmers who own crop and fish farms along the river. The water level at the Mekong River in The northeastern province of Nong Khai has risen for the second day, after China decided to release more water from its up stream dam to help alleviate drought in the Mekong River basin. Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Lu Kang announced in a regular news briefing on Tuesday that China will release emergency water supply from Jinghong Hydropower Station in southwest China's Yunnan Province to downstream Mekong River from March 15 to April 10. The water level currently stands at 1.8 metres today, an increase of 27 centimetres from the day before, though remained 10.27 metres lower than its banks. It is expected that the water level in the Mekhong River would continue to rise no less than 10 cm. tomorrow, as the water level in Chiang Karn district in Loei province has already risen by about 48 cm. and the water should reach Nong Khai within the next 18-20 hours. Meanwhile, the rising water level has prompted the Nong Khai Provincial Office to send out emergency letters asking concerned agencies warn crop and fish farmers along the Mekong River to be aware of the increasing water level. Nonetheless, the higher water level has paved way to better boat navigations in the area. (TNA)