Severe Drought Predicted for 18 Thai Provinces this Year - But Which Ones?

The following article doesn't tell us which provinces are expected to be drought-plagued this year:

_____

Severe Drought Forecast for 18 Thai Provinces

CHIANGMAI, Feb 8 (TNA)

Thailand's Department of Water Resources has forecast that 18 provinces across the nation will face drought, or at least a severe shortage of water, particularly in areas outside the irrigation service, according to Director General Siripong Hungspreug.

Mr. Siripong said that after the department evaluated the water situation all over the country, it estimated that during the coming dry season, the areas outside the irrigation service in 18 provinces would experience the water shortage and drought.

The affected provinces would scatter all over the country including the provinces in the southern region which had never face water shortage before, he said.

However, he expected that the degree of harshness would be similar to last year crisis, the Director General said.

After the floods over vast areas last year, many weakened dams and reservoirs were repaired in time to restore greater volumes of water for use during the dry season.

To prepare for the crisis, the department is coordinated the agencies concerned to distribute water to areas experiencing water shortfalls and launched a campaign to promote the more efficient use of water resources, he said.

(TNA)-E003