Many villages hit by drought as dams less than half full
More than 20,000 villages across the country have been hit by drought as water levels in many large dams are at half capacity.
Wiboon Sanguanpong, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said yesterday that 21,939 villages in 37 provinces had been declared drought-hit zones. The provinces are in the North, Northeast, East and Central regions.
“Drought victims can call 1784 for help round the clock,” Wiboon added.
The Royal Irrigation Department said the Kingdom’s large dams currently had 44,310 million cubic metres of water, but only 30 per cent of this can be used. The dams include Kwai Noi Bamrung Dan in Phitsanulok, which is only 29 per cent full; Lop Buri’s Pasak Jolasid, which has 41 per cent; Udon Thani’s Huai Luang with 27 per cent; Kalasin’s Lampao with 39 per cent; Nakhon Nayok’s Lam Phra Plerng at 48 per cent; Nakhon Nayok’s Khun Dan Prakan Chon at 26 per cent; and Chachoengsao’s Klong Si Yad with just 42 per |cent.
The Royal Irrigation Department said that though the amount of water stored was higher than the amount seen during the same period last year, farmers should use water cautiously to ensure that the supply is not disrupted before the start of the rainy season.
Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department has dispatched 635 mobile pumps to help those affected by drought and also has 295 water trucks on stand by.
In related news, the Meteorological Department forecast that thunderstorms and strong winds would hit the North, Northeast, East and Central regions, as well as Greater Bangkok between now and Saturday.
