Mr Suphot said construction of sluice gates to regulate water from the Mekong River is finished although pumping water into catchment areas in the Huai Luang Riverbasin will take about a year.
The gates will also help keep out excess water from the Mekong River during the rainy season. About 300,000 rai of farmland in irrigated areas is expected to benefit from the water diversion.
However, bilateral agreements with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia which share the Mekong River will need to be incorporated in the project, Mr Suphot said.
Meanwhile, the DWR released and updated water volumes in the four main dams of the Chao Phraya River basin.
The Bhumibol dam reservoir holds one billion cu/m of water, the Sirikit dam 1.8 billion cu/m, the Kwai Noi Bamrung Dan dam 333 million cu/m and the Pasak Jolasid dam 486 million cu/m.
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority is releasing six million cu/m of water per day to support Bangkok and the surrounding provinces.
Of this amount, 49% is used by households, 32% by industries and the rest by government offices.
To address the current drought, Mr Suphot said the priority is to preserve water forresidential use while maintaining the ecosystem.
Measures to systematically distribute water from dams and reservoirs are beingunveiled in 548 districts across the country, having begun Monday and lasting until May. Artesian wells will also be dug to supply water to households and farmland.
Currently, about 59% of 928 districts nationwide are facing water shortages and Mr Suphot urged the public to use water sparingly.