ID :
129879
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 19:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/129879
The shortlink copeid
Severe drought continues hitting Thailand, reduces growing season
BANGKOK, June 26 (TNA) -- Water levels at major dams in Thailand have declined sharply, especially in the northeastern region, due to an ongoing drought. Limited water supplies have led the government to urge farmers to grow rice only twice a year, rather than triple-cropping, according to an Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) executive.
EGAT Dam Director Kitti Tancharoen said the water levels in the North now stand at 32 per cent of total storage capacity, 62 per cent in the central region, 34 per cent in the Northeast and 62 per cent in the South.
Major retention facilities such as Bhumibol Dam in Tak province and Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit do not store much water now and water consumption would be sufficient for only 45 days if there is no rainfall, said Mr Kitti.
Because of the acute drought and shortage of water, farmers are urged to grow rice only twice a year while a working committee has been established to solve the problem, he said.
In the northeastern region, EGAT has helped the people by distributing an average of 3.5 million litres for each area to help cushion the hardship of people, said Mr Kitti.
Songyot Jerdnapaphan, director of EGAT’s hydropower plants for the northeastern region, said the water level in Ubol Ratana Dam, about 50 km northwest of Khon Kaen, now contains only 24 million cubic metres or one per cent of its total capacity while about 300,000 cubic metres of water from the dam must be released daily.
If there is no rainfall during this period, people will suffer tremendously, Mr Songyot added. (TNA)
EGAT Dam Director Kitti Tancharoen said the water levels in the North now stand at 32 per cent of total storage capacity, 62 per cent in the central region, 34 per cent in the Northeast and 62 per cent in the South.
Major retention facilities such as Bhumibol Dam in Tak province and Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit do not store much water now and water consumption would be sufficient for only 45 days if there is no rainfall, said Mr Kitti.
Because of the acute drought and shortage of water, farmers are urged to grow rice only twice a year while a working committee has been established to solve the problem, he said.
In the northeastern region, EGAT has helped the people by distributing an average of 3.5 million litres for each area to help cushion the hardship of people, said Mr Kitti.
Songyot Jerdnapaphan, director of EGAT’s hydropower plants for the northeastern region, said the water level in Ubol Ratana Dam, about 50 km northwest of Khon Kaen, now contains only 24 million cubic metres or one per cent of its total capacity while about 300,000 cubic metres of water from the dam must be released daily.
If there is no rainfall during this period, people will suffer tremendously, Mr Songyot added. (TNA)
