Chiang Mai faces severe drought

CHIANG MAI, Jan 10 (TNA) - The drought situation in the northern capital of Chiang Mai has become critical now while irrigation officials have reiterated that farmers should not grow rice during the off- season. Water level in Mae Kuang Udomthara Dam in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district has sharply lowered with about 31 million cubic metres of water stored, or 12 per cent of the total capacity. Concerned authorities have to stop supplying water to farmers growing rice during the current off-season. Irrigation officials said they would only supply water to restore environment and for large fruit trees to alleviate drought situation this March and April at the rate of three million cubic metres monthly. Now, rice farms in several areas of the province, especially on highland, are now in need of water. (TNA)