Funds for about 1,700 water management plans were approved by the cabinet yesterday.
Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said seven billion baht has been earmarked to pay for an urgent water management scheme for this fiscal year.
Chatchai: Central fund will pay
Gen Chatchai, who is chairman of the Water Management and Policy Committee, said the funds would be set aside from the central budget.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday the cabinet endorsed the spending plan but said ministries concerned should be brought in to ensure efficient spending.
The Interior Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and the Agriculture and Agricultural Ministry must work together to address water problems, he said.
Gen Prayut said authorities must assess the water situation in their provinces, estimate water supplies and needs, and draw up a plan to deal with drought and water shortages.
Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) insisted yesterday there would be sufficient water for consumption in the approaching dry season.
Citing information from the department's water situation analysis centre, RID deputy spokesman Thongpleaw Kongchan said the amount of water in the country's major reservoirs currently stands at 42,171 million cubic metres, or about 60% of the holding capacity. Of this amount, 18,668 million cubic metres can be used.
He said about 8,173 million cubic metres of water have been used.
Based on the centre's information, he said second rice-crop farming undertaken this year covers 4.72 million rai — 2.91 million rai more than the amount allowed by the plan which is set at 1.81 million rai.
He said the RID has decided against supplying water to second-crop farms due to the low water supply which will be used mainly for consumption and maintaining the ecosystem in the dry season which ends in April.
As of Monday, it was calculated 2,016 million cubic metres of water had been used to supply farmlands in the irrigation zone. This accounts for 70% of the forecast amount (2,900 million cubic metres of water).
Mr Thongpleaw said the department is closely monitoring water salinity in three major rivers — Chao Phraya, Tha Jeen and Mae Klong — to make sure it not exceed the limits allowed.
The salinity of water in the Chao Phraya at the Samlae water production facility run by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority is 0.12 grammes per litre, below the limit of 0.25 g/l.
The salinity in Tha Jeen at Chinda canal in Samphran distirct in Nakhon Pathom is normal at 0.25 g/l, so is the salinity level in Mae Klong river at Damnoensaduak canal which is measured at 0.25 g/l. Limits in these rivers are 2 g/l.
The salinity is being monitored to make sure saltwater intrusion which happens in the dry season will not threaten tap water production.
He said the RID has sent 55 water pumps and 51 water trucks to help alleviate drought problems across the country.