34 reservoirs to be built this year

BANGKOK, March 18 (TNA) -- Realising that drought problem would worsen during the upcoming summer season, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) plans to construct 34 reservoirs and ‘monkey cheeks’ – a water retention area -- throughout Thailand in 2017, said Sanchai Ketworachai, director-general of RID. He said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya had ordered every government agency under the ministry to map out measures to cushion the impact from this year’s drought. The RID has already allocated about 2.73 billion baht for the construction of 10 reservoirs and 24 ‘monkey cheeks’ which are to complete this year. Upon the completion, a total of about 420 million cubic metres of water could be stored and supplied to some 19,600 households. To date, one of the 10 reservoirs is being built in the northeastern province of Yasothon while another in the northern province of Lampang. (TNA)