Nakhon Ratchasima officials to discuss Lamtakong dam's low level
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Nakhon Ratchasima's Irrigation Office 8 will discuss with the provincial governor and related officials on Wednesday the idea of pumping water from the Lam Sae dam in Khon Buri district into the Lamtakong dam in Sikhiu district to counter the latter's low
Office director Chidchanok Somprasert yesterday revealed Lamtakong contained 60 million cubic metres of water, or 19 per cent of its capacity.
Chidchanok said the water from Lam Sae would be pumped into Lamtakong from July to December or would finish before December if the water level returned to normal.
The upcoming meeting will determine the daily water amount needed to minimise the impact on Khon Buri residents, he added.
Lam Sae has 102 million cubic metres of water, or 37 per cent of its capacity.
In related news, Phitsanulok’s Khwae Noi dam contains 134.52 million cubic metres of water, or 14 per cent of its capacity, meaning 90 million cubic metres of water will be released for public use over the next 50 days.
If the water level did not rise, some 150,000 rai of downstream farmland and eight communities would be affected, said the dam’s director Somwang Pansuksan yesterday.
Meanwhile, the PM’s Office Deputy Secretary for Political Affairs Renu Tangkajiwangkoon yesterday presided over a meeting at Ubon Ratchathani City Hall to find solutions to issues concerning the Pak Mul dam.
Some 400 members of the Assembly of the Poor presented a petition to officials prior to the meeting calling for the dam’s gates to be opened.
The officials agreed in principle that the gates would be opened when the Mekong River’s downstream level reached 95 metres above sea level (it is currently at 92) or when the Mul River followed into the dam at over 500 cubic metres per second (it is currently at 20).
The provincial governor was assigned to monitor the situation and make recommendations, while two sub-panels were set up.
One sub-panel will assess the dam gate opening results and the other will study research about the Pak Mul dam so solutions can be suggested to Prime Minister's Office Minister.
