The government has assured the public there would be no repeat of the 2011 floods, citing coordinated water management and readiness for tropical storm Kalmaegi despite major reservoirs nearing capacity.
Heavy rain has been forecast for the North, Northeast and Central Plains until Sunday, as Kalmaegi was expected to weaken to a tropical storm and move over Laos before reaching Ubon Ratchathani at some point on Friday.
Rainfall of 35-90mm was expected across the North, Central Plains, East, South, and Greater Bangkok.
Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow said on Friday after an inspection trip in Pathum Thani that there would be no recurrence of the 2011 floods as water releases were proceeding according to plan under the Royal Irrigation Department’s supervision.
He said that relevant agencies under the ministry were instructed to accelerate water releases through the Chao Phraya dam to create capacity for new inflows and minimise impact on farmers and local communities.
Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said that water releases from the Bhumibol and Sirikit dams in the North were being carefully managed ahead of expected heavy rainfall, in coordination with the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), the RID, and other agencies.
The Bhumibol dam, holding 13.2 billion cubic metres of water (98% of capacity), is expected to receive an additional 400 million cubic metres from tropical storm Kalmaegi. Its daily discharge will increase to 30, 40, and 45 million cubic metres to prevent water levels downstream from rising more than 20 centimetres.