BANGKOK, 21 February 2013 (NNT) - The North continues to battle drought as Chiang Rai and Phitsanulok provinces have declared additional districts drought disaster zones.
Chiang Rai Governor Pongsak Wangsamer said Chiang Rai has so far declared 18 districts disaster zones, with over 200,000 rai of agricultural land affected by the worsening drought. 125 trucks containing drinking water have been dispatched to assist farmers living outside irrigation zones.
Farmers in the province have been pumping water from nearby areas to sustain their farming as water in the Kok River, the province’s main source of water, has dropped drastically, showing visible dunes along its path.
Meanwhile, in Phitsanulok, chief of the provincial disaster prevention unit Boonying Khumsuphan said the province is set to declare another district drought disaster zone, in addition to 8 districts already facing a drought crisis.
Local authorities are joining hands to deliver water to people in need, especially those in remote areas. As the dry spell has damaged over 4,000 rai of fertile land in the province, an emergency assistance fund of over 3 million baht has been approved in a bid to help the affected locals.