BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department to speed up flood drainage into the Mekong river and limit discharges from upstream reservoirs to help people along Chi and Mun rivers.
Thongplew Kongjun, director-general of the department, said the prime minister made the order to help flood victims in 80 districts of Kalasin, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket, Maha Sarakham, Amnat Charoen, Mukdahan, Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
According to him, discharges from reservoirs and weirs in the upper parts of Chi and Mun river basins are being either reduced or stopped to control deluges towards the downstream districts. The discharge control happens in Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin and Roi Et provinces.
Discharges stopped at the Lam Pao dam in Kalasin and the Nong Bor reservoir in Maha Sarakham. The Ubolratana dam in Khon Kaen cut its discharge rate from 500,000 cubic meters to 300,000 cubic meters a day. The Nong Wai weir in the same province decreased its rate from 450,000 cubic meters to 200,000 cubic meters a day.
Unless rain resumes, the Mun river should stop overflowing at the center of Ubon Ratchathani province on Sept 13, Mr Thongplew said. (TNA)
