Resource minister lays down policies to Water Resources Department

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) -- Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Karnjanarat told the Department of Water Resources to issue easy to understand disaster warnings, refrain from jargon and be prepared to cope with drought. Visiting the department, Gen Surasak inspected its water-monitoring centre named Mekhala that gathers real-time pictures of waterways and information from the Royal Irrigation Department, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the Meteorological Department and Laos. With the information, the Mekhala center is able to efficiently issue warnings of possible disasters. Simplified warnings would improve communications with general people and the department should also conduct evacuation exercises and locate really safe places for evacuees so that evacuation would not have to be repeated in one situation, the minister said. Regarding drought, Gen Surasak said that reserved water was relatively low this year but still manageable if people reduced their water consumption. (TNA)