Drought: 'Worst in 50 years'
With large dams almost empty and little rain in sight, an irrigation official says many parts of Thailand face the worst drought in 50 years.
With large dams almost empty and little rain in sight, an irrigation official says many parts of Thailand face the worst drought in 50 years.
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Normally, this old temple building in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district would be half submerged with water at this time, but with the lack of rain, it is now easily accessible to tourists. KRIT PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
2014 drought 'worst in 50 years'
Chudet Sihawong
Low water reserves in two big dams in the Chao Phraya river basin will make drought this year the severest in 50 years, an irrigation director said on Sunday.
Suchart Charoensri, irrigation director in Manorom district of Chai Nat province, said water reserves were very low in the Sirikit and Bhumibol dams.
The Bhumibol dam in Tak province has a capacity of 13,462 million cubic metres but is holding only 5,147 million cubic metres. The reserve forms 38% of the total capacity but actually only 10% of the total capacity is usable.
The Sirikit dam in Uttaradit province has a capacity of 9,510 million cubic metres but a reserve of only 5,221 million cubic metres. The water amounts to 55% of the total capacity but only 25% of the capacity can be used.
Only 25 percent of the capacity of the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit province is available for use near the start of what is likely to be a long dry season. PATIPAT JANTHONG
Mr Suchart said the amount of water reserves in both dams had gradually dropped in the past ten years except for 2011, the year of severe flooding.
In addition to the low water reserves, the Meteorological Department predicts there will be very few storms in Thailand for the rest of this year. Therefore, Mr Suchart said, drought in the North, the Central Plains and the Northeast will span from this year until as late as June next year and will make the upcoming drought the severest in 50 years.
However, he expects the Irrigation Department to manage water reserves to minimise the impact.
To help with management, Mr Suchart said rice growers should refrain from planting a second crop and turn to plants which need less water. He also suggested farmers, especially those with livestock, reserve water in their ponds for use in the dry season.
He said farmers should not pump underground water to grow a second rice crop because that would not be a worthwhile use of the water.
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