The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is looking to construct kaem ling water-catchment areas in Chiang Mai's Mae Teang district to improve Srinakarin dam's water diversion project. The move is part of a bid to solve the current drought crisis in the western province of Kanchanaburi.
"The kaem ling [monkey cheek] project facilitates water management to solve the drought crisis and it can be conducted in other areas with other water source developments, such as the water diversion project," Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the ONWR, said on Thursday.
Five districts in Kanchanaburi are facing severe drought. In its first phase, the water diversion project at Srinakarin dam will pump water from the Khwae Yai River to feed replenish farmlands and residents. This will bring enough water to serve 78,500 rai of land, he said.
The budget to finance the first phase of the project will be sought in 2022. The Royal Irrigation Department was ordered to expedite a survey of the area earmarked for the project.
In the second phase, a water diversion tunnel will be built. The tunnel can carry water to feed 415,000 rai of land. However, the tunnel's potential impact on the environment will be studied first, Mr Somkiat said.
The project in Kanchanaburi will replicate the kaem ling model in Chiang Mai.
Six kaem ling water catchment areas are up and running, and they've helped to mitigate damage caused by the drought and floods. Under the project, a catchment area has managed to retain water from the Mae Taeng canal for use during drought. The catchment area can also take in excess water, which eases the effects of floods.
Meanwhile, floods are still battering vast areas of Nakhon Ratchasima where many reservoirs and dams are filled to the brim.
A second wave of floods, triggered by recent tropical storms, have perpetuated damage to farmlands, private properties and homes in Chok Chai district with two tambons -- Tha Lat Khao and Phlapphla -- bearing the heavy brunt yesterday.
Provincial governor Wichian Chantaranothai said he expects the flood to recede in two weeks.
In Chok Chai district, water has inundated the 900-year-old Prasat Prang Pha Kho in tambon Krathok. More than 30 households nearby were evacuated.