BANGKOK, Dec 27 (TNA) — The National Water Resources Office (NWRO) warns that severe drought in 2015 is recurring in this dry season and it needs 2.62 million baht to cope with water shortages.
NWRO secretary-general Somkiat Prajumwong said that the drought would be as bad as that happening in 2015 because it was predicted that rain would not fall until July next year.
The severe drought would also let seawater intrude deeper inland. His office plans to divert water from western rivers to protect farmland in Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram provinces and maintain the tap water production of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, he said.
Seawater intrusion could occur in January and February, Mr Somkiat said.
His office will seek 2.62 billion baht from the government’s contingency budget to implement 2,008 projects to cope with the drought. The projects will add to 1,333 projects worth 2.92 billion baht by other organizations to help drought victims, Mr Somkiat said. (TNA)
