BANGKOK, 24 February 2013 The government promises to do the utmost to help drought-hit people by integrating the work of all relevant units and the digging of 2,400 groundwater wells.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Preecha Rengsomboonsuk said during the weekly “PM Yingluck Government Meets the People” TV program on Saturday that the government had started the preparation and the prevention for the drought problem since October 2012, as instructed by the Premier.
Mr. Preecha said the ministry had, since then, surveyed and dredged 25 watersheds across the country in an effort to lessen the impact of a dry spell during January and April 2013. Raw water sources and water pumps had also been prepared for the provinces in need, the minister said.
In addition, the Department of Groundwater Resources has dug more than 2,400 clean water sources and over 3,000 underground wells for remote areas across the country, for consumption and agricultural uses.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation revealed that more than 25,000 villages from 35 provinces have been affected by drought so far.
The government has reported that this year has less rain and water than last year but its early preparations will lead to better water supply. Long term solutions to drought have been started.
