PM plans to visit flood-hit Northeast

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha plans to visit northeastern provinces, affected by the rising Mekong River. In the Northeast, the water level in the Mekong River remains critical in Nakhon Phanom at about 60 cm below its banks. Due to high water level in the Mekong River, its branch canals are swollen, flooding houses and about 20,000 acres of farmland because the water cannot be drained into the Mekong River. Ten districts were declared as disaster zones and 13,724 people have been affected. In the northeastern province of Nong Khai, the Mekong River is 20 cm. higher than its branch canals. Irrigation officials closed the sluice gates and installed pumps to drain water from canals to prepare for more rain. They will closely monitor the situation. In Bueng Kan, officials pump water out of low-lying areas to prepare for more water inflow in the next two days. Water pumps were installed around the provincial government office and in two districts to speed up draining water into the Mekong River. In Sakhon Nakhon, officials are installing the siphon system for water diversion at Nam Oon dam. Meanwhile, water inflow into the dam has dropped. The differentiation between water inflow and outflow is less than one million cubic metres, much lower than almost 30 million cubic metres in the past five days. Deputy prime minister, Prachin Chanthong convened a meeting to solve flood problems with governors and state agencies from 20 northeastern provinces. The meeting focused on water management, agriculture and fishery. (TNA)