Thai government on alert to prevent floods in downstream areas

BANGKOK, September 7 (TNA) - The Thai government, through agencies concerned, is on alert to work out measures to prevent possible floods in downstream areas, including Bangkok and peripheral areas, in the remaining period of this year's rainy season. Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya told journalists on Wednesday that his ministry plans to soon hold a joint meeting with the Ministries of Interior and Natural Resources and Environment, as well as the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to discuss measures to handle impacts from anticipated downpours in downstream areas later this month. General Chatchai explained that the move is in response to higher water levels in 33 dams and reservoirs nationwide so far this year. General Chatchai noted that there are now totally about 13.8 billion cubic metres of water stored at all the 33 dams and reservoirs across the country, higher than about 11 billion cubic metres of water in the same period last year, with the Bhumibol Dam alone storing about 990 million cubic metres of water this year, from 560 million cubic metres last year. (TNA)