BANGKOK, 6 July 2015 – The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) will convene a meeting today with ten agencies to assess the water shortage situation in the country.
According to RID Deputy Director General Suthep Noipiroj, the levels of rainfall as well as the amount of water expected to go to the reservoirs are two indicators these agencies will rely on to keep the water consumption under control.
If there is not enough precipitation to replenish water levels in the reservoirs, water released into the streams will be lowered to 28 million cubic meters until August.
Mr. Suthep added that, given the current situation, an estimated 850,000 rai of farmland would eventually be damaged due to the lack of water.
He expressed optimism that the extent of the damage would be limited, as more water supplies are expected to be transported to rice paddies that have already begun cultivation.
