BANGKOK, 26 May 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed a relevant agency to divert water into Bhumibol Dam, as the reservoir has plummeted to its lowest levels.
Gen Prayut said there is only 50 million cubic meters of water in Bhumibol Dam. The premier told related units to take no risks and quickly implement plans to store more water before the rainy season.
The Ministry of Interior and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have also been instructed to ensure the flood management system in Bangkok is functional. Certain areas of the capital are often inundated on days with heavy rain, due to ineffective drainage.
In Sisaket province, the ongoing drought crisis has forced some farmers to burn grass in an area adjacent to Huai Ta Mai Reservoir to pave the way for the next season of rice growing. Local residents have urged authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent additional trespassing.