Two districts in Chiang Mai now hit by severe drought

CHIANG MAI, Jan 17 (TNA) - Theerapat Prayurasitthi, permanent secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, is inspecting the northern capital of Chiang Mai after two districts there are now hit by severe drought. Mr. Theerapat inspected the water levels at Mae Kuang Dam and the water sluice at Ping River after he was informed by Royal Irrigation Department (RID) officials that combined water stored at Mae Ngat and Mae Kuang dams is as low as 18 per cent of capacity, the similar level of the water stored at 12 medium-sized reservoirs in the province. However, Mr. Theerapat said his ministry has mapped out water management plans for five months from now in which water mainly from the Ping River would be used for consumption and for preserving the ecology of the Ping River. Two districts in the province including Doi Tao and San Kamphaeng are now facing shortage of water and the RID officials have been ordered to provide assistance to people living there. (TNA)