The Government held a press briefing on “Public-Private Alliance on Combating of Drought”, and called on all sectors to conserve water as much as possible. Although drought situation in 2016 has not been critical, the Government continues to undertake measures in preventing and tackling drought in a bid to ensure sufficient water supply throughout the dry season. The Government also urged people to consume water wisely, and called on farmers to cooperate with the Government.
January 29, 2016, at 1000hrs, at the Inner Santi Maitree Building, Government House, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and related agencies represented the Government in a press briefing on “Public-Private Alliance on Combating of Drought”. Gist is as follows:
Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Suthep Noipairoj stated that 2016 is another year in which drought situation was severe with very little amount of water budget. As a consequence of the Great Flood in 2011, large volume of water led to increase of rice cropping which had consumed about 18,153 cubic meter of water. Approximately 14,861 million cubic meter of water budget was released for that purpose resulting in a huge drop in overall water budget volume.
Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) (Public Organization)'s Deputy Director Chaowalit Silapathong revealed that satellite images had been used for the analysis of Government agencies’ water allocation plan. GISTDA has also constantly monitored off-season rice growing situation, and found that in 2013-2014, up to 15 million rai of land were used for off-season rice cropping. The Government, therefore, urged farmers to reduce growing off-season rice, and replace with drought-resistant crops, as well as take alternate jobs. This resulted in major reduction of off-season rice cropping, especially in the Chao Phraya River Basin where it went down to only around 3 million rai.
Deputy-General of Department of Water Resources Supot Tovichakchaikul added that compared to the previous years, drought situation in 2015 was not as critical as that in 2013, which was the most severe. Drought situation nationwide has not reached the critical stage except Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, and Surin which are just near the critical state. Nevertheless, the Government has carried out operations under 2015-2026 Water Resources Management Strategy which comprises 1) Strategy on water consumption management; 2) Strategy on promotion of water security in production sector (agriculture/industry); 3) Strategy on flood management; 4) Strategy on water quality management; 5) Strategy on restoration and conservation of denuded watershed forests and prevention of land erosion; and 6) Strategy on general management. The Government has also implemented district-based water consumption management in 928 districts across the country to determine exact amount and demand for water consumption in a bid to ensure efficiency in water management which will lead to national security, prosperity, and sustainability.
Director-general of Department of Agricultural Extension Olarn Pitak stated that the Cabinet had ordered Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to provide assistance to farmers in the repetitive drought-affected areas, and to implement agricultural development and revenue generation schemes in a bid to alleviate adverse effects of drought during 2014/15 in 3,051 sub-districts (Tambons) of 58 provinces. There are 6,596 projects in 3,043 sub-districts (Tambons) under the scheme worth 3,004.51 million Baht in budget. Approximately 2.87 million farming households have been benefited with sufficient water sources during the dry season, more employment opportunities as labors, more agricultural facilities, reduction of production cost, and higher quality crops. The schemes have created 870,000 jobs, and generated 2,048.02 million Baht of the revolving funds in community’s economic system.
Permanent-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Teerapat Prayunsit revealed that volume of total usable water in 481 large and medium-scale reservoirs was 16,870 million cubic meters or 33%. Usable water volume in 4 major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin (Bhumibhol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bumrung Dan, and Pa Sak Jolasid) stands at 3,489 million cubic meters or 19% in total; in water sources outside the irrigated areas nationwide 182.10 million cubic meters or 52% of total capacity (as of January 20, 2016); and in 4,789 smaller reservoirs across the country 1,072.55 million cubic meters, 59% of the total capacity (as of January 21, 2016).
Deputy Permanent-Secretary for Ministry of Interior Chayapol Thitisak stated that Ministry of Interior has provided assistance and mitigated plights of drought-affected people in accordance with the People’s State Policy to ensure transparency, worthiness, and accountability. The following measures have been implemented: 1) Measure to improve living standards at the Tambon or sub-district level (5 million baht per sub-district); 2) Urgent measure to empower farmers and low-income earners in a sustainable manner; 3) Support provision on agricultural machinery to cooperatives/agricultural groups; 4) small-scale investments stimulus scheme.
The Deputy Permanent-Secretary added that Ministry of Interior had emphasized public administrations, provincial governors, and district chiefs to oversee and monitor all project implementation in respective areas to ensure achievement, efficiency, and public benefits. Budget should be disbursed in a transparent and prompt manner in a bid to alleviate people’s plights, and promote better quality of life. As of now, 4 provinces, 71 districts, 371 sub-districts and 3,380 villages are declared as drought disaster zones. Ministry of Interior has put utmost effort in providing continuous assistance to the drought-affected people.
Ministry of Defense Spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich stated that all units under Ministry of Defense and the Royal Thai Armed Forces have been deployed to provide support in tackling disasters both in terms of prevention and mitigation. In addressing drought disaster, military units have continuously carried out preventive and urgent operations as part of the Government’s assistance provided to the people.
The public are urged to rest assured that the Government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would do their best and would not let them suffer from water shortage. For the meantime, the Government is putting effort in implementing water management measures, which may result in insufficient water for agricultural purpose, especially for water-consuming crop growing and off-season rice cropping. The Government called on fellow farmers to understand and cooperate by following its advice, and put priority in public interests. The public are also urged to consume water wisely. Drought disaster this time is a challenge that has impacted all. Therefore, cooperation from all is needed. The Government and NCPO believe that we can get pass drought disaster with sustainable immunity.