Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand plans to hold discussions between its water resources management agencies and relevant agencies of Myanmar to tackle the common problem of flooding, as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of the devastating flooding that struck the two countries last week, an official has said.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said on September 16 that his country wants to hold talks with Myanmar about the possibility of expanding water retention areas, to absorb excess water that originates from rivers in Myanmar and then flows through Thailand and Laos.
The Sai, Kok and Salween Rivers flow from Myanmar through Thailand, before draining into the Mekong River. On the Sai River - which demarcates the border between Thailand and Myanmar, encroachment by settlements from both sides has narrowed the riverbed, affecting flood drainage.
Regarding long-term measures, Maris said Thailand will propose a meeting on water management among agencies of Mekong riparian countries, such as China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) framework, to prevent flooding in the future./.
