Thailand's Caretaker PM continues performing duties in Northeast

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) - Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has continued performing her duties in the Thai Northeast, ordering northeastern provincial governors to properly map out water management for sufficient local consumption. As drought has arrived in Thailand sooner than expected this year, Yingluck, who was in Mukdahan Province on Friday morning, instructed the northeastern provincial governors to also exchange information on water with other neighbouring countries lying on the Mekong River Basin. This year's drought has hit several northeastern areas, including those in Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Maha Sarakham Provinces. The caretaker prime minister later visited Sakon Nakhon, where severe drought has affected three out of 18 districts, prompting officials to start distributing water to local farmers and villagers in some areas. The caretaker prime minister is scheduled to return to Bangkok later in the day. (TNA)