Water management planned for rainy season

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) – The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) plans water management for cultivation in the rainy season, affirming enough water for farming. The agency held a meeting with the Meteorological Department and the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute to monitor the weather and the water situation as the country will officially enter into the rainy season next week. It is forecast that this year, the amount of rainwater will be eight per cent lower than average. RID director-general Thongplew Kongchan said the RID has implemented its plan to allocate water for rice cultivation since May 1. The rice committee expects farmers will grow rice on about 16 million rai (6.4 million acres) of land across the country. The RID provides water to large paddies in the Bangrakham river basin in Phitsanulok and the rice paddies in the Chao Phraya River basin in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani respectively. Meanwhile, he said large reservoirs nationwide store proper amount of water and still have enough room for receiving more rainwater. He said he ordered more than 400 medium-sized reservoirs to hold water not more than 80 per cent of its capacity. Currently, 43 reservoirs have much water and are discharging excessive water from the reservoir to maintain the proper storage level of water. The director-general confirmed the stored water in reservoirs is enough for consumption and agricultural purposes if rainfall delays in some areas. (TNA)