EGAT closely monitors amount of reserved water at dams

BANGKOK, September 28 (TNA) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) says it is closely monitoring the amount of reserved water at upstream dams and preparing to cope with more rainwater from, probably, another depression in the coming days. EGAT Assistant Governor Kitti Tancharoen, who oversees hydro power plants, told journalists on Friday that the past depression entering Thailand from Vietnam and Laos on September 19 had brought heavy downpours to Thailand's northeastern, eastern and central regions, while many dams of the EGAT had received more water although there had been no concerns at the dams. Kitti elaborated that water intake at the Sirindhorn Dam amounted to 567 million cubic meters from September 16-21 and the EGAT had, thus, to open its spillway on September 19 when the dam was 93 per cent filled. On September 25, the Sirindhorn Dam held 1,723 million cubic meters of water, accounting for 88 per cent of its full capacity and it should, therefore, receive 244 more million cubic meters of water. The Srinagarind Dam is now 83 per cent full and can hold nearly 3,000 more million cubic meters of water; so, it does not raise any concern. The Ubol Ratana Dam is 55 per cent filled and its discharge rate is increased from 3 million to 10 million cubic meters of water per day to prepare for the, probably, new depression. Meanwhile, Adisak Khanti, Director of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage, under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), confirmed that the overall water situation in the capital has remained normal, acknowledging that the main Chao Phraya River can fully cater water from upstream areas at 2,500-3,000 cuber meters per second but the latest water level measured at the Rama VIII Bridge in the heart of the city stood at 1,800 cubic meters per second. (TNA)