THAILAND, 18th March 2017 (NNT) – Many provinces are stepping up measures in preparation for the annual drought crisis.
Nong Khai Governor Suchart Noppawan, has undertaken drought-prevention projects in the province including pipeline enlargement, the installation of large-scale water pumping machines, and the construction of water distribution facilities. The governor said the residents and up to 2,000 rai or 790 acres of farmland will benefit from these projects.
In Chiang Rai, Krit Swatmit, the director of an irrigation project in the province, said there is a total of 2.5 million rai or 988,000 acres of farmland in the province and currently there are 217 billion cubic meters of water held in reservoirs, 28% higher than the previous year. However, he said the amount of water the city has, can only supply 1.7 million rai of plantations. In addition, the province has installed more pumping machines in farming areas that are outside the irrigation zone, ready to be called on to ease any water shortage.
In Uthai Thani, provincial Governor Manrat Ratanasukon, travelled 10 kilometers by boat along the Sakae Krang River to inspect the level and flow of the water. The governor then instructed local authorities to remove the floating perennial plant water hyacinth and other aquatic plants from the waterway to increase the flow.
In Phichit, Governor Weerasak Wichitsaengsri held a press conference announcing a plan to construct a dam in Pho Prathap Chang district. Expected to be finished in 2020, the dam will have a storage capacity of up to 12 million cubic meters of water.
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Reporter : Thammarat Thadaphrom
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