Interior Minister orders all governors to prepare for drought

BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) -- The Permanent Secretary of Interior Grisada Boonrach said that he has given an urgent order to all governors, district chiefs, as well as heads of villages and communities, along with executives of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) across the country to immediately implement the water management plans ahead of the coming drought. Mr Grisada said the country is already heading into the drought season and weather forecasting agencies have predicted that there will not be enough water to feed the demands of the public. He said the ministry has reiterated for the setting up of a water resource and consumption survey committee at the sub-district and district levels, where the data should categorised into water for consumption and agriculture. The water management project, royally-initiated by His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej should be implemented, as well as other folk wisdom and public cooperation to better manage the water resources. Experiences learned from last year's drought should also be adapted to cope with this year's situation, while the public must also be encouraged to economise on the use of water and to plant crops that require less water as well. (TNA)