PM orders reservoir construction to solve flooding problems

BANGKOK: — Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered that a mega-irrigation system be developed, and that reforestation projects be implemented in a long term response to stop flooding in Thailand’s flood-prone areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said on Monday that the Interior Ministry is monitoring the flood situation in the North and the Northeast.

A committee has been set up to help flood victims, he said, and its members have regularly traveled to the flooded areas. Measures to help flood victims have also been put in place.

The prime minister had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to run the integrated water management projects in basin areas, said Mr. Suwat.

Meanwhile, in the northern province of Phichit, incessant rain has caused floods in many areas.

Foodwaters in one village in the provincial seat is almost one metre deep as the area was hit by flash floods for the second time over the past couple of days.

Some villagers are traveling by boat as unpaved roads are flooded and have been damaged, while others have become sick, having contracted water-borne diseases.

In the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum, relentless overnight rain triggered a flash flood.

The water of the Chee River has rapidly risen and flooded a vast area of paddy fields.

Farmers said that the paddy fields have been under water for two days, and that extensive areas of farmland will be damaged if the flood does not receded within a week.

In the southern province of Phang-nga, about 100 rai of farmlands and eight roads in three villages of Kapong District are under water due to continued downpours over the past few days.

Local officials and volunteers have been dispatched to assist flood victims in the areas and to repair damaged roads.

–TNA 2006-09-12

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