BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) — While several parts of Thailand are approaching 40 degree Celsius during the current summer season, water stored at major dams is running dry too, according to the Office of the Natural Water Resources (ONWR).
A report released by the ONWR said that 35 reservoirs and two natural water resources have a combined 42,132 million cubic metres or 59 per cent of the storage capacity and water which is usable is only 18,589 million cubic metres.
A total of 426 medium-sized reservoirs have only 2,448 million cubic metres of water, or about 44 per cent of overall capacity, while water which can be used stands at only 2,033 million cubic metres.
What is alarming is that 14 major reservoirs nationwide have a combined less than 30 per cent of usable water.
Out of these 14 major reservoirs, Ubon Ratana Dam in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen has only one per cent of usable water followed by stone Sirindhorn Dam also in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani has about five per cent of water.
Kra Siew Dam in nearby Buri Ram province has six per cent while Tub Talao Dam in Uthai Thani province has 15 per cent and Pa Sak Jolasid and the Khun Dan Prakan Chon dams in Lop Buri and Nakhon Nayok respectively have a combined 22 per cent, the report said.
Water management has been regularly planned by the agency which is responsible for water consumption by both human and plants in the country while it is praying that rainwater would fall sufficiently during the coming rainy season. (TNA)
