The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has adjusted its water distribution plan after the water in 10 main dams across the country receded to critical levels.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said Wednesday the water discharge plan of each dam has been tweaked to cope with severe drought as water levels continue to drop.
The dams include Ubolratana dam in Khon Kaen, Mae Ngat Somboon Chon dam in Chiang Mai, Huai Luang dam in Udon Thani, Lam Pao dam in Kalasin, Kra Seaw dam in Suphan Buri and Lam Phra Phloeng dam in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Gen Chatchai said water will be discharged according to the schedule of each dam. For example, Mae Ngat Somboon Chon dam will release 1.2 million cubic metres of water a week.
Dam officials will also work with provincial administrative organisations and the Provincial Waterworks Authority to extend pipes to distribute tap water to drought-stricken areas.
Gen Chatchai, however, insisted water in the dams will be adequate for both tap water production and agriculture.
A 70-year-old fisherman retrieves his boat from dried-up Bueng Nong Sanoon, a catchment area in Nakhon Sawan's Phayuha Khiri district. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The ministry said 47 districts in 12 provinces have been declared drought disaster areas.
Among them are Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Pathom, Buri Ram and Kanchanaburi.
Water from artesian wells will provide tap water for these drought-hit provinces.
Gen Chatchai said artificial rainmaking operations were also launched nationwide on Tuesday to ease the drought situation.
He said the resignation of several pilots under the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation last year will not affect the rainmaking operations.
The department has 54 pilots and 41 aircraft. Sixteen other pilot positions remained vacant.
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The department might work with the Department of Civil Aviation to recruit more pilots, Gen Chatchai said.
Meanwhile, Office of Water Management and Hydrology director Thongplew Kongchan said the Royal Irrigation Department has conducted a survey on water sources in drought-affected and risk areas.
The Groundwater Resources Department will decide whether the water in artesian wells in each province will be sufficient to supply tap water production. If not, water trucks will be sent to distribute water to residents.
The Defence, Interior and Agriculture and Cooperatives ministries will also be responsible for drought operations, Mr Thongplew added.
In Phitsanulok, 131 villages in 22 tambons of five districts have been declared drought disaster zones.
The five districts are Wang Thong, Noen Maprang, Phrom Phiram, Bang Krathum and Wat Bot districts.
The drought also affected more than 3,800 villagers and 63,392 rai of farmland in the province.
Provincial governor Chuchart Keelapaeng has set up a centre to tackle drought.
More than 490,000 litres of water were delivered to residents in Wang Thong and Wat Bot districts.
In Ang Thong's Muang district, an influx of vegetables resulted in a decline in yield prices.
Boonsueb Changkid, 44, a luffa and pepper farmer, said several farmers had opted to grow crops which consume less water than rice due to the water shortage which led to a plunge in vegetable prices.
