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<br />o Non-optimal management of water at large scales (departmental), and <br />at district or irrigation scheme scales, and at individual farmer <br />scale. <br /> <br />o No charge for agricultural water leading to its inefficient us~ge. <br /> <br />o Lack of water for ever-expanding irrigation stress supplies in the <br />north and central areas. <br /> <br />o Lack of water use laws and regulations. <br /> <br />The groundwater resource.s of Thailand are! not well defined. Development of <br />groundwater has been limited because surface water sources have been abun- <br />dant and accessible. However, recent increased usage has forced more <br />attention to groundwater use in certain high demand areas. Most ground- <br />water is pumped from shallow and deep wells on alluvial deposits in major <br />river valleys. Major areas of the nation have limitations to extensive <br />groundwater development. Thick cap rock layers make deep wells prohibitive <br />in the east, and salt strata in the northeast result in brackish ground- <br />water on 65 percent of that large area, roughly 30 percent of Thailand. _ <br />Much more data collection and research are needed before a good perspective <br />will exist on the groundwater potential of Thailand. <br /> <br />The average rainfall is not adequate, in time and space, to meet the <br />demands for water and to attain the sound economic advantages that double <br />cropping, more power, and less groundwater pumpage at Bangkok offer <br />Thailand. Irrigation is the biggest water user- with a national irrigated <br />area of 7.5 million hectares (90,000 MCM), 4.7 million hectares of which <br />are concentrated in the central area (Chao Phraya and Mae Klong Basins). <br />Hydropower generation produces nearly 5000 GWH which provides approximately <br />15 percent of the national energy generation requirements. Water used for <br />domestic and industrial purposes is concentrated in the Bangkok area where <br />river water use is 2.16 MCM per day plus 1.3 MCM from groundwater. A <br />fourth and rapidly increasing use of water is to address water quality <br />problems. Water to control the salt water intrusion of the Chao Phraya <br />Delta is about 700 MCM per year, equivalent to the water used for domestic <br />and industrial consumption at Bangkok. River and canal pollution episodes <br />also are diluted by major water releases. River transport is another user <br />of the waters of Thailand. Priorities followed in irrigation reservoir <br />operations are 1) water quality, 2) irrigation needs, 3) urban domestic and <br />industrial supplies, and 4) generation of hydropower. Operations in EGAT <br />reservoirs are focused on power as top priority. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />D. Brief History of the Origin of Weather Modification in Thailand <br /> <br />In the early 19601s, His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej became 'interested <br />in attempting to make rain to alleviate drought in various areas of <br />Thailand. Upon his return from a tour of the United States and Europe, His <br />Majesty King Bhumipol urged various Government agencies to undertake a <br />. stUdy of "rainmaking" in Thailand. In 1964 the agricultural engineering <br />expert, the late Dr. M.R. Debriddhi Devakul of the Department of Agri- <br />culture and Cooperatives, became interested in the concept. Dr. Devakul <br />and his assistant, Metha Rajatapiti, became acquainted with the literature <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />II- <br /> <br />11 <br />