PWA begins rationing in three provinces

A pump and water lines are abandoned by the Provincial

 Waterworks Authority on the bank of Khlong Makham

 Tao in Suphan Buri's Don Chedi district.

(Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has begun rationing

 water in three provinces as the severity of the drought, expected

 to be far worse than last year, has started to affect tap

water production.

Ratana Kitchawan, the PWA's director, yesterday said three

 branches of the PWA are rationing water in three provinces

to conserve water for tap water production as several regions

 of the country face water shortages due to severe drought.

The three PWA branches are Kaeng Khro in Chaiyaphum,

Tha Tako in Nakhon Sawan and Nong Rua in Khon Kaen.

 Ms Ratana also urged the public, particularly residents

 in Bangkok and its outskirts, to use water sparingly, suggesting

 people reserve water for consumption in preparation for a

possible water shortage.

 In the East, Ms Ratana said salty water has intruded into the

 Bang Khla branches in Chachoengsao province.

 To address the problem, the PWA used water redirected from

its other branches as well as water purchased from the private

 sector to help push out salty water.

Salt water intrusion has not affected the central provinces.

 

However, the PWA is closely monitoring the situation and is

seeking water sources in reserve such as Ban Moh Lake in

 Saraburi, she added.

Ms Ratana said more than 2 billion baht was also allocated to

a survey on artesian wells and private firms' catchments in

the PWA's 55 branches nationwide and located in

drought-prone areas.

 Meanwhile, assistant government spokesman Atisith Chainuvati

 said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit Nakhon Sawan

and Chai Nat provinces tomorrow to collect feedback on

 the government's measures and listen to problems of residents.

 Col Atisith said the premier will also be accompanied by

 Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister

 Anupong Paojinda, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister

Chatchai Sarikulya and Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Surasak Kanjanarat during what will be monthly visits.

Tomorrow, Gen Prayut will inspect a knowledge centre to

enhance agricultural products in Nakhon Sawan's Banphot

Phisai district and the Ban Nong Du Reservoir Rehabilitation

 Project in Chai Nat's Nong Mamong district.

Col Atisith said the reservoir rehabilitation project was

established to conserve water for use during the dry season.

 The capacity of the reservoir is 800 billion cubic metres.

Col Atisith added that, as a result of the severe drought, some

12,315 villagers nationwide were willing to refrain from

growing off-season rice at the government's suggestion.

They instead planted alternative crops such as maize and

mung bean which consume less water.

 

 Veerasak Srikawi, director of the Srinakarin dam in Uttaradit, s

aid the dam held 12 billion cu/m of water, or 72% of its capacity

while the Vajiralongkorn dam, another major dam in

Kanchanaburi, contained 5 billion cu/m, or 56% of its capacity.

 He said the combined water volume in the two dams available

for consumption was 4.4 billion cu/m, with none available for

second-crop cultivation or fish or shrimp ponds.

 

News,General,Bangkok Post, 21 January 2016.

 

The drought problem is very serious problem and it damage

agricultural products in the country.

 

Despite water provide from the dam,the knowledge and

financial support for farmers to have their own source

of water to use in their field should do also in my viewpoint.

 

Sincerely Yours.