Deputy PM worried for drought

BANGKOK, Sept 3 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya stated that the overall water level this year was averagely lower than previous years and voiced his concern of possible drought in the areas outside the irrigation system. Gen Chatchai said that despite reports of heavy rains in the the past months, most of the rain falls at the same areas while some areas have no rainfall at all. Farming areas outside the irrigation systems face a real threat of drought as having very little rainfall while it was expected that the temperature is rising after the rainy season. Commenting on the government's policy to urge the farmers to refrain from off-season rice farming in 22 areas along the Chao Phraya River basin, Gen Chatchai stated that that decision was the measures under the water management plan just like the previous years. He said that once crops have been harvested, water will be released to the rice fields which will act as water retaintion areas to prevent flood. (TNA)