Border rivers may be targeted for drought relief

12 มกราคม 2559

If its neighbours are willing, the Thai government plans to divert water from rivers which form natural boundaries into major dams in a long-term measure to battle drought.

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Govt set to divert water from key rivers

Post Reporters

The government plans to divert water from rivers which form natural boundaries with Thailand's neighbours into major dams in a long-term measure to battle drought.

Suphot Tovichakchaikul, chief of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), said Monday that aside from the country's local sources, water from the Moei River bordering Myanmar could possibly be diverted into the Bhumibol dam in the western province of Tak while water from the Mekong River could be piped to other major dams in the Northeast region.

However, neighbouring countries will need to be informed in advance of any water diversion.

Mr Suphot was speaking after a meeting of the National Water Board chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House, also on Monday.

He said the water diversion project approved in principle at the meeting will be long-term in nature as it first requires an environmental impact assessment, a process which should take about a year to complete.

The government has been studying the feasibility of channeling water from border rivers for more than 10 years, he added.

A farmer paddles a boat along a dried-up canal in Suphan Buri's Song Phi Nong district. The water has receded rapidly due to a severe drought which arrived early this year and is affecting many parts of the country PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

According to Mr Suphot, the Bhumibol dam in Tak can take in more than four billion cubic metres of water as the drought has caused water levels to plunge.

In the future, if and when the diversion from the Mekong River is given the go-ahead, water will be drawn into sources in the Huai Luang River basin located in Udon Thani and Nong Khai.

Mr Suphot said construction of sluice gates to regulate water from the Mekong River is finished although pumping water into catchment areas in the Huai Luang River basin will take about a year.

The gates will also help keep out excess water from the Mekong River during the rainy season. About 300,000 rai of farmland in irrigated areas is expected to benefit from the water diversion.

However, bilateral agreements with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia which share the Mekong River will need to be incorporated in the project, Mr Suphot said.

Meanwhile, the DWR released and updated water volumes in the four main dams of the Chao Phraya River basin.

The Bhumibol dam reservoir holds one billion cu/m of water, the Sirikit dam 1.8 billion cu/m, the Kwai Noi Bamrung Dan dam 333 million cu/m and the Pasak Jolasid dam 486 million cu/m.

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority is releasing six million cu/m of water per day to support Bangkok and the surrounding provinces.

Of this amount, 49% is used by households, 32% by industries and the rest by government offices.

To address the current drought, Mr Suphot said the priority is to preserve water for residential use while maintaining the ecosystem.

Measures to systematically distribute water from dams and reservoirs are being unveiled in 548 districts across the country, having begun Monday and lasting until May. Artesian wells will also be dug to supply water to households and farmland.

Currently, about 59% of 928 districts nationwide are facing water shortages and Mr Suphot urged the public to use water sparingly.