Thailand speeds up reforestation to solve flooding

BANGKOK, February 29 (TNA) - Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk insisted Wednesday that the government is speeding up reforestation in two million rai, or 3,200 square kilometers, of catchment areas to solve the country's flooding problems on a sustainable basis. Preecha told journalists that the reforestation focuses in the Thai North and officials in charge have to stay in the areas for at least 3-5 years to take care of seedlings. To cope with possible drought this year, the minister said that water trucks have been prepared in drought-prone provinces to provide affected people with quick help. Meanwhile, Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut assured that water reserves at large-scaled Sirikit and Bhumibol Dams would be reduced to some 45 per cent of their full capacities by May 1, 2012 to prevent floods, saying that the amount should be enough for local use in the opposite phenomenon of insufficient downpours, or drought, in the upcoming rainy season. The minister acknowledged that there should be 6 billion cubic meters of water at the Bhumibol Dam and 4.2 billion cubic meters at the Sirikit Dam, and that his officials would later reserve more water at the two major dams if the amount of rainwater was low, affirming that the planned water reserves are equivalent to the targeted 45 per cent of the two dams' full capacities in order to prevent any severe flooding this year. (TNA)