‘Monkey cheeks’ prepared in Chao Phraya lower basin

BANGKOK, Aug 20 (TNA) -- The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) plans to prepared ‘monkey cheeks’, a water retention areas, along the lower basin of Chao Phraya River after there were concerns that the capital of Bangkok and neighbouring provinces will encounter flooding during the current monsoon season, said the RID director-general Thongplew Kongchan. Mr Thongplew said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya had issued order that farmers must complete rice cultivation in the lower basin of the river within mid-September. The RID has been supplied water to farmers to feed rice in the area since May 1, some 15 days before rain started so that rice would not get damaged by rain, said Mr Thongplew. He said the lower basin area, starting from Nakhon Sawan province, has total area of 1.15 million rai and able to absorb water amounting 1.5 billion cubic metres. Heavy rainfalls in the area are expected from now until the end of monsoon season in October, said Mr Thongplew, adding that the RID would drain water stored in dams to enable these dams to store rainwater during the period. Rainwater will then be released to the Gulf of Thailand. But ‘monkey cheeks’ will have to retain water in case of heavy rainfalls, he said. Farmers will have to cease rice farming during the period while the ministry will find ways in providing compensation to them, Mr Thongplew added. (TNA)