Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya on Wednesday instructed governors of five provinces to spearhead efforts to alleviate water shortages in their provinces, which are at risk of being hit by a severe drought this year.
Gen Chatchai's order came during a visit to Phitsanulok to inspect water management and preparations for drought likely to affect Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, and Nakhon Sawan.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted an extended period of drought for about three months this year, and if the water management plan is not followed, several more communities will be hit by water shortages.
It was reported that second-rice crop farming in these five lower northern provinces exceeded the limit by 300,000 rai and authorities were told to make sure the farmers would not grow additional rice to prevent the problem from worsening.
Gen Chatchai ordered the provincial governors to bring in all relevant agencies to prevent and ease water shortages by drawing water from other areas, sending water trucks or calling for rain-making operations.
In Phitsanulok and Sukhothai provinces, several communities in the service area of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) faced shortages of raw water for tap water production. In Nakhon Sawan, those outside the PWA's service area were likely to be hit by water shortages.
He was accompanied by Somkiat Prajumwong, secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, and Royal Irrigation Department chief Thongplew Kongchan.
Gen Chatchai's delegation also visited a community in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district to inspect a rice planting project known as the "Bang Rakam model 2019" in which farmers in low-lying areas harvest their crop early so their farms can serve as water catchment areas during the rainy season.
Under the scheme, the rice planting season runs from April to August after which the rice fields covering 1,414,898 rai in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam and in Nakhon Sawan can retain 2,033 billion cubic metres of water.
Gen Chatchai said the Bang Rakam model, introduced in 2017, proved successful in reducing crop damage from flooding and should be continued. Meanwhile, in northeastern Kalasin province, water in the Huay Mano reservoir in Na Khu district is at just 16% of capacity.
