YALA - Widespread land clearing has been discovered in protected watershed forest above Bang Lang dam reservoir, adding to fears of a serious water shortage in Yala and neighbouring Pattani in the next few months.
Fourth Army commander Lt-Gen Wiwat Pathompak recently ordered a survey of forests around the Sankala Khiri mountain range in Betong, Than To and Bannang Sata districts after the water level in Bang Lang dam reservoir dropped to its most critical level in 36 years.
Intelligence officer Pol Lt Arun Kalukonlaya of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4's Forward Command was appointed to lead the team, which first made a survey by helicopter.
He said they discovered recent illegal tree felling and land clearing at 17 locations, each of 100-200 rai.
His team, comprising soldiers, border patrol police, Bang Lang National Park officials and local leaders, would next make a ground inspection of the damage at each site. Legal action would be taken against encroachers, he said.
During the helicopter survey, plant seeds were scattered over the encroached land. Young trees would also be planted in those areas, he said.
The encroachment of the forest had affected the supply of water from the watershed into Bang Lang reservoir, where the level had reached a critical low, Pol Lt Arun said. There had been no rainfall in recent months. If there was no rain in the next 2-3 months, the water level behind the dam would be inadequate for irrigation use and home consumption in Yala and Pattani, he said.
The Royal Irrigation Department on Friday said the Bang Lang dam is now storing 497 million cubic metres of water, or 30% its holding capacity of 1,590 cu/m. The amount of usable water was only 221 million cu/m, or 14% of capacity.