Prayut lays down the law on water

The order said activities that consume huge amounts of water must be postponed or suspended throughout the crisis. Private-sector activities that use a lot of water such as golf courses, swimming pools and hotel rooms must resort to their reserve water supply first. The public sector must set a good role model in water conservation. “They must exercise conscience and consume water in a well-planned manner. Those who violate the order will face drastic action,’’ he said.

Members of the public have been urged to refrain from certain activities such as washing their cars. “They should just wipe out the dust and be aware that we live under abnormal circumstances. They may think they have money to pay for tap water but please think again – we are in a water crisis,’’ he said.

Farmers are strictly banned from diverting water to their farms from Saturday to Monday because water must be conserved to push sea intrusion that can tamper with tap water production otherwise people who use tap water would be affected.

Sansern said since the levels of water in large dams are still vulnerable, the government has given water for consumption first priority. The Cabinet has an urgent agenda to provide water for consumption for people hit by water shortages. Water would be donated from the central government to drought hit areas. 

His Majesty the King has instructed that water service centres be established at Rat Pracha Nukhro schools across the country. The Interior Ministry would be the main agency soliciting support to help everyone get through the drought.

In terms of setting priority for farmers, the government would first provide water to farmers whose farms are close to harvests and gardeners whose trees would die without water. Farmers whose farms are not close to harvest would not get water and the government would provide compensation.

Agriculture Minister Pitipong Puengbun na Ayuddhya yesterday chaired a meeting of concerned agencies in Ayutthaya on the water crisis, stressing the need to help 22 central provinces on the Chao Phraya basin.

Agricultural Promotion Department director-general Olarn Pitak said the department established a help centre in the form of social media so that farmers can report their problems through social media channels, which he believes would enable them to solve problems fast. The department also supports farmers who want supplemental income by growing plants that consume less water and opt for diversified farming. The department also provides financial support in terms of agricultural loans and providing knowledge on crop sequencing.

In Buri Ram, five water-pumping stations were not able to pump water for rice farmers with 10,00 rai of farms because the water level in the Moon river has hit rock bottom and if they pump the water, fish farmers may be affected. 

Officials now fear the water war among farmers in drought hit zones. Sombat Jamikorn, 60, a farmer in Tamuang and Anuchit Yiamram agreed that there could be a water war if the water crisis is prolonged. They called on the government to solve the problem by constructing small dams or provide water retention areas so farmers have water for consumption and for their livelihood in the long term. 

Farmers in Ayutthaya are preparing for a ceremony to apologise to the spirits guarding rice farms for allowing their rice farm to go without water and die.

Many farmers in Nakhon Luang district depressedly looked at their farm after no more water from Lop Buri river was pumped into their farm.