Royal Irrigation Department arranges water for Songkran

BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) -- The Royal Irrigation Department has announced that it has made preparations to provide increased water supplies during Songkran so that the general public will have adequate water for festive drenching. Deputy Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department Thaweesak Thana-Dechaphol reported on water management measures for the dry season as well as accommodations made for increased water usage during the upcoming Songkran holidays. Mr Thaweesak stated that all of its branches throughout the country have been ordered to increase water supplies from dams, weirs and rivers so that people in every province will be ale to enjoy Somgkran. Northern provinces such as Chiang Mai will be allocated additional supplies from the Mae Ngat Somboonchon Dam into the Ping River from April 11 - 15. As for the historic city moat surrounding the old Chiang Mai capital supplemental supplies of water will be directed from the Mae Taeng Weir in accordance with a predetermined timetable specified by Mae Taeng conservation policy. Other northern provinces will begin receiving additional supplies of water mainly from the Kew Lom and Kew Khor Ma dams located in Lampang between April 9 - 16. Another major dam in the north is the Mae Suai Dam in Chiang Rai province which will begin discharging increased water supplies from April 9 - 16. The deputy director-general stated that all the additional supplies were specially prepared for Songkran beforehand and was not part of the regular supplies for the farming . The Royal Irrigation Departments in the northeastern province meanwhile have already begun discharging increased supplies in preparation for Songkran. These include the Nam Un Dam in Sakon Nakhon province and the Huay Luang Dam in Udon Thani. The Ubonrat Dam in Khon Kaen province meanwhile is reported to be preparing to discharge no less than 8 million cubic meters of water per day for the entire month of April. Southern provinces meanwhile will receive their supplemented supplies from the main Kaeng Krajarn Dam in Petchaburi province. The Royal Irrigation Department confirmed that these additional supplies would not affect other regular users as preparations were made beforehand to allocate these supplements for Songkran. However, the department is asking the general public to use water conscientiously with an eye on conservation and safety.(TNA)