PHICHIT, Nov 2 – Drought has hit a number of areas in northern and northeastern Thailand, and disaster zones have been declared in some provinces.
Phichit governor Chakarin Pleanwong said that the area east of the Nan River is at risk of drought as it is located out of the irrigation zone and natural water sources are insufficient.
Off-season rice crops in four districts are affected and rainfall this year is less than previous years. About 24,000 acres of rice paddies have begun to experience water shortage, he said.
The local irrigation office was initially asked to support five large pumps to divert water from the Nan River to a tributary to save the paddies. Agencies concerned will meet to find more solution to tackle the problem. One district has been declared a disaster zone so far.
Meanwhile, Preecha Rueangchan, Phitsanulok governor expected that this year, the drought is worse and water reserves stored in natural water reservoirs dropped fast. Several provinces have begun encountering drought since the beginning of October earlier than usual in February.
However in Maha Sarakham, flooding has extended to wider areas. Four districts were declared disaster zones with 64,000 acres of paddy fields damaged. Water reserves in 17 reservoirs amount to only 47 per cent of their capacity while water in creeks and waterways is drying up.
