Thailand braces for heavy downpours this week

BANGKOK, May 27 (TNA) - Thailand's relevant agencies are working together to cope with heavy downpours nationwide this week, as forecast by the Meteorological Department. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach told journalists on Monday he has instructed his ministry's Royal Irrigation Department to carefully handle its water management plans comprehensively in response to a recent forecast by the Meteorological Department that there would be heavy downpours across all Thai regions during May 27-30. Grisada stated that he suggested the Royal Irrigation Department to assign its all irrigation stations to closely monitor the updated water situation in their respective areas and prepare sufficient resources to deal with the situation in their areas, namely personnel, water pumps, water jets and other necessary machines and equipment. Besides, his ministry's Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Livestock Development and Department of Fisheries have been ordered to work together with the Ministry of Interior in an integrated manner to assist local farmers in areas affected by either heavy downpours or shortages of water. Meanwhile, Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Thongplew Kongjun told reporters that his department has prepared water allocation plans to sufficiently meet the demand of consumers and farmers nationwide throughout this year's rainy season, from May 1-October 31, while also conserving the national ecological system. The senior official said, however, that accumulated downpours nationwide have stood at 229.30 millimeters since the beginning of Thailand's rainy season last week, about 25 per cent lower than the average level, while the total amount of water at 447 dams and reservoirs nationwide has stood at about 39.86 million cubic meters, or about 52 per cent of their total capacity, and can take in more downpours at about 36.21 million cubic meters totally. (TNA)