A picture taken in 2020 shows a woman walking on an arid rice field in Suphanburi province of Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) The groundwater department has sent geologistsand more than 80 teams to areas without irrigation networks and regions hit bywater shortages as dam water levels are depleted.
During a recent visit to the northeasternprovince of Yasothon, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment VarawutSilpa-Archa said the amount of groundwater underneath Thailand is tremendous,estimating 10 percent to 15 percent of the country’s more than 700 millionlitres of rainwater is beneath the ground.
Groundwater abstraction has been controversial insome countries, with concern about an over-reliance on underground sourcesinstead of protecting and better managing water resources on the surface.
Some conservation groups pointed out thatgroundwater abstraction is drying out lakes and wetlands while causing aquifersto deplete and land to sink like what has happened in and around Bangkokcapital city.
Minister Varawut also said “every precaution” isbeing taken to prevent damage and sinkholes.
Despite efforts to convince farmers to cultivatecrops that are less water-intensive, water demand for agriculture keepsgrowing. To try to harness future supplies, authorities are studying whether todevelop hundreds more groundwater resources./.
VNA
