Bangkok:Chao Phraya Dam is preparing to increase water discharge following the National Water Resources Committee's approval of a new management framework.
According to Thai News Agency, the Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, Mr. Witthaya Kaewmee, announced that the committee approved a framework for managing water downstream of the dam at a rate of 2,000-2,500 cubic meters per second. This decision allows adjustments to the water release based on the upstream water situation, with gradual increases planned according to inflows from Nakhon Sawan province.
Currently, the dam is releasing water at 2,000 cubic meters per second, but the flow at station C.2 in Nakhon Sawan has risen to 2,038 cubic meters per second. Additional inflows from the Sakae Krang River and surrounding areas necessitate close monitoring to determine the appropriate discharge rate through the dam.
Upstream, the water level has risen to +17.66 meters, close to the control threshold of +18.00 meters. Further increases could lead to widespread flooding in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, and Chai Nat provinces. Consequently, there is a need to consider increasing the downstream discharge, with efforts to limit it to no more than 2,200 cubic meters per second to avoid impacting downstream communities.
Mr. Witthaya emphasized that while the framework allows for discharges up to 2,500 cubic meters per second, the actual release will depend on the current conditions, prioritizing the safety of both upstream and downstream areas. The maximum limit will not be reached unless the water from Nakhon Sawan rises significantly, indicating no immediate need for such action.