Government’s new ad hoc center to cope with water crises

BANGKOK, Aug 3 (TNA) -- The government has opened a new ad hoc joint operation center to cope with water crises. Officials from nine governmental organizations man the center to monitor water situations around the clock. Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources, said the center was set up at the Smart Water Operation Center of the Royal Irrigation Department in Sam Sen area, Bangkok. He chaired a meeting of the ad hoc center with officials from the Royal Irrigation Department, the Department of Water Resources, the Meteorological Department, the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the Department of Local Administration, the Public Relations Department, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Mr Somkiat said the ad hoc center was set up by an order of the Office of the National Water Resources on Aug 2 as many areas in the country were flooded and water exceeded suitable levels at many medium and large-sized reservoirs. The ad hoc center was formed in response to an instruction of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who wanted such an organization to monitor water situations around the clock and take swift and united actions to cope with water crises, Mr Somkiat said. The ad hoc center would decide on suitable discharges from reservoirs and issue warnings to flood-prone areas, among other responsibilities, he said. The center was directed by Samroeng Saengphuwong, deputy director-general of the Office of the National Water Resources, and would report water situations to Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya daily to support policymakers, Mr Somkiat said. (TNA)