As water levels at several major reservoirs in Sakon Nakhon continue to rise due to steady rain, irrigation authorities have finally begun releasing water to save dying crops.
The water volume in three major reservoirs - Nong Harn, Nam Oun and Nam Pung - and 32 other irrigation canals in the northeastern province has risen more than 5% after two days of heavy rain, and the rainfall is continuing.
Watcharapong Srisamran, acting director of the Nam Oun water distribution and maintenance project, said on Friday that Nam Oun reservoir in Phang Khon district now held 230.750 million cubic metres of water, or 44.38% of its storage capacity of 520 million cu/m of water.
About 14.44 million cu/m of water had flown into the reservoir this month, lifting the water level by 20 cm.
Irrigation officials have now opened sluice gates at the reservoir to feed water to cropland on both sides, Mr Watcharapong said.
The reservoir would stop discharging water on Oct 31 to allow reserves to build up for use during the dry season, he added.
Anxious farmers said last week their rice crops were dying for lack of water as the paddy fields had dried out .