BANGKOK (NNT) – The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has warned southern provinces to brace themselves for flooding before the year ends, while upper regions of Thailand will be face drought, with dams now holding less water than at this time last year.

The ONWR Secretary General Somkiat Prajamwong has revealed the outcomes of the National Water Command’s meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, saying that the northern region is likley to face a drought disaster, as the region has seen more precipitation in areas below the dams, meaning that portion of rainwater was lost.

The ONWR has at this time ordered the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Groundwater Resources to survey possible sites to construct groundwater wells to help mitigate the expected drought crisis.

Some upper northeastern provinces are now sharing the same prospect, with reservoirs such as the ones at Nam Un Dam in Sakon Nakhon, Huai Luang Dam in Udon Thani, and Lam Pao Dam in Kalasin, now holding less than 50 percent of their water capacity.

In Khon Kaen however, water levels in reservoirs there are higher than before, much the same as other provinces in the lower northeastern region and the central region. Given this situattion, the ONWR is expecting the upcoming drought not to last long.

In the southern region, the ONWR has warned southern provinces to prepare for floods starting at the end of November, and continuing until the end of December, after expected heavy rains.

The office has ordered local agencies to prepare their staff and equipment, and to stay on alert in order to mitigate damage faced by the general public.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has now urged all agencies to accelerate their plans to cope with drought, especially in the upper northern region, the upper northeastern region, and the central region, in an effort to limit the severity of the disaster.

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BANGKOK (NNT) – With the haze, caused by PM 2.5, expected to return to Bangkok this week, measures have been proposed to the Cabinet aimed at curbing air pollution, mostly by preventing unnecessary burning and limiting vehicle emissions.

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) Director General and Center for Air Pollution Mitigation (CAPM) Chief Athapol Charoenshunsa revealed that the National Environment Board has approved 12 interim measures to reduce the accumulation of airborne PM 2.5, as well as reducing the number of burning hotspots by 20 percent.

A communications subcommittee has been established, under the National Environment Board, to report accurate air pollution information and mitigation efforts to the general public under the One Voice, One Team approach. The communications subcommittee will be communicating with the general public through the CAPM.

The National Environment Board’s PM 2.5 measures will be proposed for the Cabinet’s approval tomorrow. The board is expecting an approval in order to execute these measures, ahead of the expected haze season next month.

The CAPM Spokesman Siwatt Pongpiajun revealed that the accumulation of PM2.5 in the Greater Bangkok Area is expected to reduce tomorrow, thanks to better air circulation and rising air due to the influence of Storm Vamco, which has weakened into a low pressure system.

The center does expect the PM 2.5 level to rise again on 18-19 November, especially in the southwestern parts of Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi.

The PM 2.5 levels in the central and western regions are still within the standard limit.

Hotspots have been detected in the northeastern provinces of Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Koon Kaen, leading to the accumulation of airborne particles. Forecast rain tomorrow will help reduce the air pollution.

Mr. Siwatt said weather aspects are difficult to control, making it necessary for human activities which emit air pollution to be restricted. This has led to the introduction of measures such as an open-air burning ban, the regulation for cargo trucks to enter city areas only on odd or even days, and the promotion of work-from-home arrangements for employees, to reduce the use of personal cars.

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