BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning to supply 150,000 cubic meters of underground water to parched areas along the Chao Phraya River daily.
According to Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Dapong Rattanasuwan, more underground water will be sought to help sustain rice fields in the low lying areas of the Chao Phraya River and the lower part of the North.
Farmers’ crops in the areas could be at risk as the amount of water supplied from the irrigation system has been temporarily lowered. Around 511 spots have been identified as sources of the underground water.
Water has so far been pumped from 402 of artesian wells to help prevent over 60,000 rais of rice fields from drying up. The amount of water supply could reach as much as 150,000 daily by the end of July and 133,650 more rais will be spared from the drought crisis.
