BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 – Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda has ordered the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and offices concerned to step up assistance for drought-hit people as the situation in various areas is getting worse.
The DDPM has integrated its operations with local administrative organizations in 105 districts in twenty three provinces which have been declared ‘drought disaster zones’.
Those units work to prioritize water allocation aimed to satisfy public consuming purposes rather than agricultural use.
Local officials have also been assigned to keep people informed about the situation and explain them the government’s water allocation plan in order to avoid conflicts possibly occurring from unequal water allocation.
DDPM Director-General Chatchai Phromlert has ordered local DDPM offices to support related authorities with water pumps, machinery and staff to hustle the operations especially in northern provinces.
