Kalasin dam to sharply decrease water discharge

The Lam Pao dam in Kalasin will reduce water discharge by more than half. (Photo by Yongyuth Phupuangphet)

Lam Pao will sharply reduce the amount of water flowing through the dam, bringing relief to residents of Kalasin, a province still battered by flooding.

Kalasin governor Suvit Khamdee said after a daily briefing on the flood situation that the dam will slash water discharge by more than half -- to 15 million cubic metres per day -- providing there is no more rainfall in the province.

The water released through the dam peaked at 37.56 cu/m per day on July 30, when downpours blanketed the northeastern region. Its daily discharge has steadily decreased since then, from 36 cu/m on Aug 12 to 33 cu/m on Sunday, according to Royal Irrigation Department figures.

The governor said the reduced water flow will alleviate flooding in Muang, Yang Talat, Kamalasai, Khong Chai and Rong Kham districts.

Kalasin is one of seven provinces that remain flooded. The others are Nakhon Phanom, Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani and Ayutthaya, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Monday.

Since early July, flooding has killed 36 people in Thailand.

The Meteorological Department has forecast rain and thunderstorms in approximately half of the northeastern region through this coming Sunday.