Irrigation officials fear the receding water level above the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province could lead to partial damages to rice fields situated nearby.
According to the acting chief of the water distribution and management unit of the Royal Irrigation Office 12, at the moment the Bhumibol Dam is storing 5.9 billion cubic meters of water or 45 per cent of its capacity while the Sirikit Dam has 5.7 billion cubic meters or 60 per cent. Of the combined amount, only 4.9 billion cubic meters are usable.
As for the Chao Phraya Dam, the level of water above the dam is measured at 14.20 meters above mean sea level and it is speculated to continue to recede. Some of the reasons behind the decrease are the distribution of the water to Bangkok for tap water production and the ongoing effort to flush out salt water. The water discharge rate is still maintained at 70 cubic meters per second.
Out of the 1.3 million rai of off-season paddies situated upstream of the Chao Phraya Dam, 800,000 rai has yet to be harvested. If the water level continues to decline, some of the remaining crops could be devastated by drought.
