NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Six major dams, five of them in this northeastern province, could accommodate another 500 million cubic metres of water between them, the 8th Irrigation Office said on Tuesday, allaying fears they could overflow and devastate communities downstream.
Wiwat Thitirat-asawa, director of water management, said the overall water situation at the six major dams under the jurisdiction of his office was stable.
The six dams are Lam Takhong, Lam Mun bon, Lam Sae, Lam Phra Phloeng and Lam Plai Mat in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Lam Nang Rong in Buri Ram.
The six dams had a combined capacity of 1,104 million cu/m of water. As of Tuesday, they held a total of 596 million cu/m of water, or 54% of manageable capacity. They could store an additional 508 million cu/m in total, Mr Wiwat said.
He assured local residents that there would be no overflow from the dams.
Mountain runoff from Khao Yai National Park that ravaged several areas in Nakhon Nayok has worried many residents in Nakhon Ratchasima. The office had been flooded with phone calls from people seeking reassurance, Mr Wiwat said.
The situation at Khao Yai in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima was still normal. Less rain had fallen there than in Nakhon Nayok.
On Tuesday, only 900,000 cu/m of water flowed into Lam Takhong dam in Sikhiu district. The dam held 211 million cu/m of water, or 67% of its storage capacity of 314 million cu/m of water. It could take in an additional 102 million cu/m of water, Mr Wiwat said.
