Bangkok: In the final stretch of the rainy season, the government is urging the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to accelerate water management efforts to cope with potential flooding. The Prime Minister has expressed concern over the ongoing flood crisis and has tasked Paradorn Prisananantakul, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, to coordinate with the National Water Resources and Sewerage Policy Office (NWR) for a strategic plan to manage the heavy rains expected in the remaining 15 days of the rainy season. Additionally, the government is preparing to provide financial relief of 9,000 baht to each affected household.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Paradorn is actively engaging with the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) as part of the Prime Minister's directive. He highlighted concerns about the water situation due to multiple storms and the need for precise water management to minimize the impact on the Chao Phraya River Basin. Mr. Paradorn is also working on a compensation plan for flood victims that will be no less than last year's rates.
After a meeting with ONWR executives at the Chutamas Building, Mr. Paradorn revealed that the Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has assigned him to closely monitor the water situation. Continuous heavy rains, influenced by several storms, have resulted in accumulated rainfall in various river basins, leading to flash floods and mudslides.
The Meteorological Department and the Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) forecast further rainfall during the first half of October due to a low-pressure area. This is compounded by large dams in the North, such as the Sirikit and Bhumibol Dams, nearing full capacity. The Sirikit Dam, in particular, may need to increase water discharge, affecting downstream areas.
Consequently, water from the North is flowing into the Chao Phraya River basin, necessitating increased discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam. This may impact downstream provinces, including Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi.
In response, the government has directed the ONWR to collaborate with RID to manage water by diverting it to harvested fields without affecting community areas. The government will continue to monitor rainfall data to guide local and national decision-making and adjust water discharge plans for various dams to ensure stability and minimize impacts.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of compensating disaster victims, setting a compensation rate of at least 9,000 baht per household for last year's damages, with additional relief measures to be considered.