Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Thai government is now workingon its drought mitigation and water saving plans for this year’s dry season,expected to be the worst in 20 years.

It is asking all agencies to increase water retention areas to increaseavailability.

Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has delivered policies for droughtdisaster mitigation and rainwater collection in the upcoming rainy season, in ameeting attended by government agencies, provincial governors, and localadministrations.

He said the government is focusing on rainwater collection to provide waterresources during the drought, as well as the mitigation of the drought disasterdue to insufficient water availability.

The Prime Minister said the King and the Queen have expressed their concerns,and have ordered the government to continuously address the issue.

It is expected this year’s drought disaster could be the worst in 20 years, andwill inevitably cost the country 0.11 percent of its GDP. The government hasstudied some 450 projects, now materializing, to help increase wateravailability by about seven billion cubic meters.

The Prime Minister added the Office of National Water Resources have beenmaking plans to mitigate a possible rain shortage this year, by urgentlyconstructing new water retention areas in time for the upcoming rainy season.

These 1,320 projects should be commenced immediately, and be completed in June.The new water retention areas are intended to collect and store 276 millioncubic meters of water.

The government is also communicating with villagers on the latest watersituation, and the government’s solutions to mitigate the impact of water shortage./.