Thai government copes with drought

BANGKOK, January 12 (TNA) - Thailand plans to seek the green light from neighbouring countries to divert water from the Salween and the Mekong Rivers for domestic consumption to relieve drought this year. Suphot Tovichakchaikul, Director-General of the Water Resources Department, and Suthep Noipairoj, Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, told a press conference on Tuesday that the plan was agreed at a meeting of parties concerned on a possible water shortage in Thailand, held earlier in the day and chaired by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha. Suphot said the meeting discussed national approaches on dealing with drought, as a total of 548 districts nationwide are expected to be affected by this year's drought amid signs of early drought this year. Suphot stated that the meeting resolved that it is necessary to divert water from overseas, dig more artesian wells and, most importantly, reduce growing areas of crops which consume plenty of water, as well as seek people's cooperation on saving water. Suphot revealed that participants in the meeting agreed to assign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek a permission from neighbouring countries, based on earlier deals, to pump water from the Yuam River, a main branch of the Salween River, and the Mekong River for consumption in Thailand. The Water Resources Department chief noted that concerned government agencies have also been asked to conduct a 18-month study on any impact if additional water is released into the Bhumibol Dam in Thailand's northwestern Tak Province, bordering Myanmar. The Royal Irrigation Department chief then told the press conference that water from Thailand's main Chao Phraya River is sufficient for domestic consumption during this year's dry season if people in the country cooperate by planting crops which consume less water and suspending rice growing during the off-season. According to the Royal Irrigation Department chief, any heavy rainfall is not expected during this year's dry season; so, people should help save water. Meanwhile, Ratilos Meekhamhaeng, Chief of Pitsanulok's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, told reporters that three districts in the lower northern Thai province have already been declared drought-hit disaster zones and two more districts are likely to be soon added to the disaster zones, as water in local waterways, especially that in the Yom River, has been declining. Chamnan Chutiang, chief of a water delivering and maintenance project for the Yom and Nan Rivers under the Regional Irrgation Office 3, reported that water levels at the major Sirikit and Kwae Noi Dams have been declining, prompting the Royal Irrigation Department to temporarily halt a regular release of water for local irrigation, while some local farmers are still growing rice in a total area of about 28,000 rais (2.5 rais = 1 acre) and pump out water from a local canal. (TNA)