Chiang Mai prepares for drought

CHIANG MAI, Nov 16 (TNA) -- Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai's irrigation office has planned to improve water management ahead of the coming drought season, while already preserving the water from the Mae Tang irrigation canal at various pools to cater to public demands, noting that the crisis could be sever in April 2016. Deputy Chiang Mai Governor Mongkol Suksai presided over the ceremony to pump out water from the Mae Tang irrigation canal into six pools surrounding the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, a move thought up by the local irrigation office as a back up plan to preserve extra amount of water for emergencies during the coming drought season. Mr Monkol pointed out that the water levels in all dams across the nation currently stand at less than 18 per cent of their capacities, where concerned agencies are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any impacts on public consumption and domestic farming. He said Chiang Mai's water management back up plans would work effectively, as the provincial office would continue to implement the second and third plans to preserve more water for consumption in April of next year, which is the peak of the drought season. He further stressed that the project also in accordance with the government's policy to handle drought. Mr Mongkol said that the recent project to conserve water would entail the pumping up of water from five locations around the heart of the province into other local pools, which would help to preserve up to 1.09 million cubic metres of water and would provide extra water for consumption for 30 days. (TNA)