Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham gave relief bags to people in Wiang Kaen District, confirming that the amount of water is not the same as in 2011, emphasizing that the government is expediting the resolution of the situation, asking the public not to worry.
At 5:30 p.m. at the multipurpose building of Wiang Kaen Wittayakhom School, Ban Lai Ngao, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province, Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister acting as Prime Minister, along with Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mrs. Manoporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport, and Mr. Surasee Kittimondol, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources, visited the area to monitor the flood situation in the North, met and gave encouragement, and gave relief bags to people affected by the flood in Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province.
Mr. Phumtham said that this visit was to give encouragement to the people. Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, expressed
her concern for everyone. However, due to the law, she still cannot perform her duties. When the process is complete, she will have the authority to give orders. He confirmed that the Prime Minister is concerned and wants to give encouragement to the people.
Mr. Phumtham said in his capacity as the government that he, acting as the prime minister, will go to the area and solve the problem. He will give full orders to move everything forward, including civil servants from all sectors who are determined to solve the water problem. The government is ready to listen and join forces to solve it fully. Currently, the focus is on solving the water problem in specific areas in the northern region first and preventing water from flowing down to the lower northern region. Wherever the problem can be solved, it will be done immediately. However, some of the water mass has moved to Sukhothai Province, which the province has prepared to deal with the water situation that will occur.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that t
oday, the participating sectors visited the area, such as ONWR, to look at long-term water management. The Ministry of Transport is taking care of the roads that are cut off and is urgently repairing and improving them to make travel easier, including planning water management. It may be necessary to drill bridge necks or make water flow through them to drain water quickly. The Ministry of Commerce is initially preparing to bring in mobile vehicles to take care of the people, including collecting construction equipment to restore all the houses. They have coordinated with the provincial governor that they will bring students from various vocational schools in Chiang Rai Province to help fix things, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is preparing to find ways to compensate for farmland.
Mr. Phumtham told the people that the government is aware of the people’s suffering and has come to give encouragement. The Prime Minister has sent encouragement and concern. We have listened to the news and ar
e concerned. Many things have eased somewhat because this flooding has come and gone. If it doesn’t rain again, things will gradually ease. The water in the Mekong River is still okay. He confirmed that the amount of water is not the same as in 2011. Today, we must help the people with their properties and farms. He is not indifferent. He will help take care of and ease the people’s suffering and has ordered officials to go down to the Sukhothai area to prevent flooding.
“I want everyone to relax. The government is ready to take care of the people to the fullest. We will quickly restore and take care of houses to return to normal as soon as possible. I would like to send encouragement to everyone to be safe and solve this disaster problem together. I would like to send physical and mental strength to cooperate because we are all Thai people,” said Deputy Phumtham. –
Source: Thai News Agency