Govt Issues Five Measures As Drought Response

[george]

Government issues five measures as drought response

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's cabinet expressed concern over the drought in the northern and northeastern regions and ordered the agencies concerned to prepare the emergency measures to help the drought-ravaged area, according to deputy government spokesperson Suparat Nakbunnam.

Ms. Suparat said during the weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday, that the Interior Ministry had briefed the ministers regarding the drought situation in 201 districts of 34 provinces facing the water shortage and drought problems.

Over 700,000 households were affected by drought-related problems, she said.

The cabinet ordered five urgent measures to be implemented to relieve the local residents distress including provide water for consumption, provide water for agriculture use, help villagers to generate income with short- term carrier training, promote sanitation and health protection and promote the safety of lives and properties.

Meanwhile, Yasothon governor Weerawit Wiwatthanawanich had announced additional drought disaster areas in four districts including Thai Chaoren, Kho Wang, Sai Mun, Maha Chana Chai, covering 24 sub-districts and 213 villages.

Relief officials distributed potable water for drinking and household consumption to over 17,000 households affected by the drought and water shortage.

Fresh fodder was distributed to cattle owners who faced shortages of food for their livestock.

The Yasothon governor had earlier named three districts as disaster areas after the province was hit by the annual drought.

In northeastern province of Buri Ram, provincial agriculture officials said the drought came early this year, therefore, he asked farmers to refrain from off-season rice planting.

The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) senior official in the northern province of Phayao said the raw water sources to produce tap water were decreasing rapidly, the fastest in the past 50 years.

The PWA official urged the public to use water sparingly otherwise they may face he problem from water shortage.

--TNA 2008-03-04

[astral]

The cabinet ordered five urgent measures to be implemented to relieve the local residents distress including provide water for consumption, provide water for agriculture use, ........

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