Drought hits parts of Buriram
THE Northeastern Buriram province has started facing a drought as the water level of the Moon River is dropping very quickly with the river bed visible at some points, Thai News Agency said today (Feb.19).
Farmers of ten villages in Satuek district have had to stop drawing the river water for their second crop because doing so would mean residents would not have enough tap water this dry season.
Meanwhile NNT said yesterday that the Royal Irrigation Department is getting ready to carry out a new round of artificial rainmaking to fill all dams with water.
Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department Sanchai Ketworrachai said that the department’s continued monitoring of the quantity of water in dams across the country found that they currently hold around 25 billion cubic meters of water, or about 49% of their combined capacity.
Mr Sanchai said that, for the central plains, there is about 7.4 billion cubic meters of water at all four major dams: Bhumibol Dam, Sirikit Dam, Pa Sak Jolasid Dam and the Kwai Noi Bamrung Dan Dam. This is equivalent to 41% of their total capacity.
He added that the situation is particularly worrying at Bhumibol Dam, where only 29% of its capacity remains.
Considering that the water volume of all major dams nationwide is low, the Royal Irrigation Department has been working with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to plan a new round in the artificial rainmaking project, especially for Bhumibol Dam and Lam Takhong Dam, he said.
Mr Sanchai said that execution of the project will start once the weather conditions permit and they are expected to be suitable from the beginning of March.
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Top: Planes from Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation seeding clouds in an effort to produce rain . Photo: NNT
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