Island has water to last until May
PHUKET CITY: The Bang Wad reservoir will be able to supply Phuket with enough water until May, because the drop in the number of tourists caused by the tsunami has reduced water consumption, a post-tsunami review meeting has been told.
Irrigation Project Director Watchara Arepornsiri told the Phuket Provincial Hall meeting, “At the moment we have 5.9 million cubic meters of water.
“I think we can use water from Bang Wad Dam until May, 2005 because there are no tourists.”
But K. Watchara warned that if there is no rain before May, “Phuket will have a problem with water.”
Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura, however, pledged that if there were a water shortage, he would use the law to force people who owned “water resources” to make them available to the province.
The Governor went on to urge police officers and others involved in identifying victims to complete the process – currently due to take six months to a year – as quickly as possible.
He also apologised to local government officers for comments he made during the chaos immediately after the tsunami struck.
“Government leaders are satisifed with the level of cooperation with and by all local government officers,” he said. “And I have to say sorry to some government officers for what I said at the time.”
