EGAT dismisses water-release rumours
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has not released water from Bhumibol and Sirikit dams since early this month, a senior official said on Sunday.
He dismissed as untrue a rumour circulating on Thai social media that Bhumibol Dam would release 100 million cubic metres of water per day, sending floodwaters to Bangkok.
EGAT hydroelectric plants’ assistant-governor Natthawuth Jaemjaeng said the last release of water at both dams was on October 7. This was done in accordance with a resolution drawn by the relevant sub-committee for follow-up and analysis of the water situation, in a bid to alleviate the flood situation in the Chao Phraya River basin.
The amounts of water in Bhumibol and Sirikit dams as of Saturday were 9,238 million cubic metre (69 per cent of capacity) and 7,968 million cubic metres (84 per cent of capacity) respectively, he said. The dams could still take more water that would be kept for use during the next year’s drought season.
“People shouldn’t believe rumours. They can follow latest updates themselves via the EGAT website, water.egat.co.th, or the EGAT Water app,” he said.