A road is flooded after heavy rains in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai Cabinet on August 27 approved a 15.8 billion baht budget to resolve drought and flooding issues in 76 provinces, government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat announced.
Seventy-four provinces will receive 200 million baht each while harder-hit Surin and Buri Ram in the Northeast will each get 500 million baht.
Following the approval of the funding proposed by the Interior Ministry and Budget Bureau, the provinces are requested to submit plans to manage droughts and flooding by September 30, ensuring they draw no objections from the public and can be implemented promptly.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda visited Surin and Buri Ram earlier this month to inspect drought conditions and to discuss water-shortage solutions with the governors of 20 provinces in the Northeast.
Earlier, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) said it would ask for a 180 billion baht budget for projects to prevent droughts in the 2020 fiscal year.
ONWR Secretary-General Somkiat Prajamwong said the proposal has been submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan during a meeting on measures to cope with droughts.-VNA
VNA
