The Bangkok deputy governor said the city is considering cutting the number of days for Songkran celebrations as the country is suffering its worst drought crisis in two decades.
Amorn Kijchawengkul said the water festival this year may last only three days from April 13-15 instead of four days. The celebration usually begins on April 12.
Amorn added that the city will also urge adjacent provinces to co-organize their Songkran celebrations with Bangkok to save water. This proposal is being considered by the city committee that organizes the festival.
Bangkok uses up about two billion liters of water per day, and due to the drought crisis, they should aim to cut consumption by 20 percent, Amorn said.
Adisak Kanti, advisor to the Bangkok governor, added that the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has decreased its usage of water from the Chao Phraya River by retrieving water from Mae Klong river and Mahasawat Canal to produce tap water. He believed the two sources will suffice for Bangkok’s water consumption until at least the end of April, Prachachart reported.
As it enters its dry season, Thailand is facing a drought in 14 of 77 provinces due to water levels in the country’s biggest dams being at their lowest since 1994.
The water shortage has hit some hotels in a country where tourism accounts for around 10 percent of GDP, as 700 hotels were urged by authorities to save water by giving out fewer towels to hotel guests to minimize their wash load.
