The government has allocated more than two billion baht for dredging waterways nationwide to increase their capacity to retain water during the upcoming rainy season.
The project will be conducted in response to the government's policy to enhance the capacity of water catchments around the country marking the 70th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne next month and Her Majesty the Queen's 84th birthday in August.
Defence Ministry spokesman, Kongcheep Tantrawanit, said yesterday that both main waterways and small river tributaries will be dredged to reserve more water for tap water production in communities as well as agricultural areas, particularly drought-stricken areas.
Dredging machines will be deployed from local administrative sectors in each area. The dredging will be conducted simultaneously early next month and is expected to finish in July before the heavy rains.
The water conserved will help villagers survive subsequent dry spells, he said.
Maj Gen Kongcheep said the ministry will also work with the Interior, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Natural Resources and Environment ministries to conduct the dredging work which will cover the Li and Tha River Basins, and branches of the Ping River.