BANGKOK, Oct 4 (TNA) — The Royal Irrigation Department is bracing for heavy rain in the South while warning that there will not be enough water for second-crop rice cultivation in the Chao Phraya river basin.
Thongplew Kongjun, director-general of the department, said he ordered subordinates in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces as well as 14 other provinces in the South to be prepared for rainwater as the regions would enter their rainy season late this month. Machines and equipment to facilitate the preparation would be deployed at all flood-prone locations, he said.
In other regions where flooding ended, irrigation officials were ordered to maintain irrigational structures such as sluicegates and embankments to facilitate water reservation to cope with the dry season that would start on Nov 1, he said.
According to Mr Thongplew, storms Podul and Kajiki increased water at reservoirs but irrigation officials must plan water discharges carefully because reserved water fill less than 30% of capacities at large dams namely Bhumibol, Sirikit, Mae Mak, Chulabhorn, Ubol Ratana, Lam Phra Phloeng, Lam Nang Rong, Thap Salao, and Krasiao dams. Water might have to be kept for consumption only and would not be available for second-crop rice cultivation, he said.
The case happened especially to the Chao Phraya river basin where there were only about 6.1 billion cubic meters of reserved water.
“Water must be kept for consumption throughout the dry season that will last nine months until the next rainy season. Water discharges for second-crop rice could otherwise lead to water shortage,” Mr Thongplew said.
Measures to help affected farmers would be proposed to the cabinet for approval within Oct 15, he said. (TNA)
