An environmental watchdog agency yesterday
revealed that a major dam in Uthai Thani province has been unable to deliver
sufficient water to farmers during the 10 years it has been in operation.
The
amount of retained water in Tab Salao Dam, located on the Sakhaekrang River, is
currently only 27 per cent of its capacity of 198 million cubic metres, said
Adisak Janthawichanuwongse, secretary-general of the northern region's
Environmental Board.
According
to Royal Irrigation Department records, the amount of retained water in the dam
last month was 40 million cubic metres.
Established
a decade ago, the dam was only able to retain the maximum amount of water in
its first year of operation. This has never been repeated, even in the rainy
season, he said.
"It
is a government mistake in water management, in that the dam has never been
able to deliver enough water to farmers' lands," he added.
Sanong
Khankankhay, a 59-year-old Uthai Thani farmer, said there was not enough water
from Tab Salao Dam to irrigate her 5-rai cassava farm.
"We
use only rainwater for our farms, which is not enough," she said while
fishing with her husband at the base of the dam.
There
is relatively little water flow into Tab Salao Dam because it is located in a
rain shadow, a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area, which blocks the
passage of rain-producing weather systems and casts a shadow of dryness behind
them.
A
similar example of inefficient dam-water management is Nakhon Sawan's Klong Poh
Dam, which has also failed to retain its full capacity since it was installed
last year, he said.
The dam
has a maximum retention area of 1,500 rai, but at present only 500 rai is
covered by retained water.
Adisak
said the two dams were prime examples of the uselessness of some dams for
agricultural purposes.
He was
speaking while leading a tour of media representatives to survey forested areas
that might be affected by the construction of Mae Wong Dam in Nakhon Sawan. The
project has been initiated by the Royal Irrigation Department to prevent
flooding.
The
plan to construct the dam was approved by the government, despite the
environmental impact assessment report being rejected by the National
Environmental Board.
The
construction site of Mae Wong Dam is expected to be at the heart of Mae Wong
National Park, in which wild tigers have recently been found.
Adisak
is worried that if the government goes ahead with the project, there will be
little or no water flowing into the dam, as has happened at Tab Salao and Klong
Poh.
Meanwhile,
National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department director-general
Damrong Phidej said he would visit the proposed construction site in Mae Wong
National Park before deciding whether to ask the government to cancel the plan.
"I
do not know the exact location of the site of the dam. I did not even know that
the dam would be built at the heart of a national park, and that is why I need
to see the area for myself," he told The Nation.
Pongphon
Sarnsamak
The
Nation
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