BANGKOK (NNT) – On the mitigation of flooding in the central region, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department to find retention areas for water to minimize the effects on villagers. Meanwhile, Chao Phraya Dam is now discharging water at 770-800 cubic meter per second, likely causing river overflows this evening, August 6th 2019, in Ang Thong and Ayutthaya.
The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Chalermchai Sri-on, has received the latest briefing on the water situation, where four reservoirs in the Chao Phraya River Basin are now holding 10.855 billion cubic meters of water, which is 44 percent of their combined capacity. This volume includes four billion cubic meters of usable water and can accommodate 14 billion cubic meters more.
The Chao Phraya River dam is now discharging water gradually at 770-800 cubic meter per second, which is expected to cause river overflows and flooding beyond the Noi River levee, surrounding Khlong Phong Pheng canal in Ang Thong, Khlong Bang Ban canal in Ayutthaya, in Hua Wieng subdistrict, Ban Kra Toom subdistrict, Sena district, Lad Chid subdistrict, Tha Din Daeng subdistrict and Pak Hai district. Floodwater is expected to be 20-30 centimeters deep.
14 provinces in the northern and lower northern regions remain flood-affected areas, including Phichit, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Yasothon, Roi Et, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, and Sakhon Nakhon. The Royal Irrigation Department has supplied water pumps, water flow acceleration boats, lorries and siphons to help mitigate the disaster.
All irrigation projects, especially those in repeatedly flooded areas, have been ordered to prepare for the situation. Areas in Phichit and Phitsanulok will be designated as water retention areas to handle water flowing from the upper northern region, which will help minimize effects on villagers in the central region. The retention areas are expected to hold 1 billion cubic meters of water in total by the end of this year, allowing farmers to finish their harvest beforehand.
Source: National News Bureau of Thailand
