Thailand -Severe water shortages likely this year

[Sally Furniss]

Severe water shortages likely this year

* Published: 5/03/2010 at 03:54 PM

This year's dry season is expected to be more severe and last longer than usual,the chairman of the Foundation for National Disaster Warning System of Thailand (NDWST) Smith Dharmasaroja said on Friday.

Mr Smith said the effects would be felt nationwide. He attributed the water crisis to the significant drop in the water level of Mekong river, the return of the El Nino weather phenomenon and climate change.

"All provinces should allocate resources for storing more water during the dry season and seek ways to solve this problem in the long run, because the crisis will be more severe every year," the former National Disaster Warning Centre director said.

Farmers in the drought-hit northeastern provinces such as Nong Khai were experiencing additional problems as paddy rats, rice lice and caterpillars were eating their crops.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/170533/critical-drought-expected-this-year

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Thailand -Severe water shortages likely this year

Rice committee to tackle drought

Published: 5/03/2010 at 02:48 PM

The National Rice Committee will meet next Wednesday to assess the drought situation and find ways to alleviate the problem, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing economic affairs Trairong Suwankhiri said on Friday.
Mr Trairong said this year's dry season is severe and has affected rice production.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry was monitoring the situation closely. Reservoirs were down to 65 per cent of capacity, 56 per cent less than this time last year.
"One of the reasons for this year's water shortage is the closure of dams in the upper reaches of the Mekong river in China," Mr Trairong said. "It is the Foreign Ministry's responsibility to discuss this issue with China."

The Kasikorn Research Centre reported that the water crisis was expected to lower gross domestic product growth this year by about 0.06 per cent.

The leading think-tank forecast that the impact on the agricultural sector could be the most severe in five years, and the damage could be at least six billion baht.

The tourism sector could also be affected. Revenue losses could be as high as two billion baht between March and April.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/170522/rice-committee-to-tackle-drought

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Thailand -Severe water shortages likely this year

Local bodies told to settle water fights

* Published: 5/03/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News

The Interior Ministry is calling on local administration organisations to step in to settle disputes over water among farmers while serious shortages persist.

It has told local administration bodies to work with the Royal Irrigation Department in tackling water shortages, said Charudon Apichartabutr, a chief inspector at the ministry.

Water supplies should be managed and distributed fairly, he said.

The water shortage has resulted in growing conflicts among farmers, amid predictions the problem will only worsen during the dry season with temperatures rising to as high as 43C.

"Water wars have occurred in several provinces as farmers are desperate for water," Mr Charudon said.

"If we do not intervene, the problem could get worse."

Kamnan, village headmen and other local administration officers working with the villagers should act as mediators when conflicts arise, he said.

In Nong Khai, the Mekong River has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years. All 17 districts of the province have been declared drought-affected areas.

Thailand was seeking China's cooperation in resolving the Mekong River problem, through the Joint Committee on Coordination of Commercial Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River, said Apisit Khamphilai, head of the Chiang Rai Marine Office. The forum is made up of Burma, China, Laos and Thailand.

Meanwhile, the Artificial Rain Operation Centre in Chiang Rai said it would carry out artificial rain production daily to supplement the volume of natural rainfall. Daily cloud-seeding would be mounted from the middle of this month to the end of next month. The centre handles artificial rain production in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Phayao, Tak and Mae Hong Son.

Wildfires could also emerge as a serious problem in the dry season, Mr Charudon said. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office had been told to prepare for the likelihood of more frequent fires, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/33898/local-bodies-told-to-settle-water-fights