More rainfalls expected this year

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - The Meteorological Department predicts that Thailand should brace for more downpours this year and there should be sufficient water for domestic consumption. Meteorological Department Director-General Wanchai Sak-udomchai told journalists on April 20, after a meeting of the National Water Resources Committee chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, that the rainy season in Thailand this year is expected to arrive next month and the amount of rainfalls is projected to be more than last year. However, Wanchai said, it is likely to have no downpours for a short period, from late June to early July, but the monsoon season should return to normal thereafter. Supoj Tovichakchaikul, Director-General of the Water Resources Department, under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, admitted that the amount of water currently stored at dams nationwide is less than last year by about 4 billion cubic metres. Supoj noted, however, that the overall situation remains fine, thanks to fine water management and the Thai government’s campaigns for farmers not to grow off-season rice to help save water, stressing that water appears to be enough for domestic consumption and for farming until this year's monsoon season comes in July. According to the senior official, both the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) have reported that they have never stopped tap water production amid the ongoing drought in Thailand. Meanwhile, Suthep Noipairoj, Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, told reporters that local agriculturists would be informed to resume growing their crops when the rainy season arrives. Suthep acknowledged that farmers along the Chao Phraya River basin will be first allowed to grow rice and other crops as usual when the rainy season starts, while highland farmers will be asked to defer growing their rice and other crops in the later rainy season. (TNA)