PM to inspect flood prevention in Thai North

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, 14 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to inspect water management plans, covering the prevention and control of floods and landslides, in the country's upstream areas, including Chiang Mai province, on June 14. Chiang Mai Governor M.L. Panadda Diskul said on Wednesday that his province's drainage systems have been improved in good place to prevent flooding in the northern Thai city, in time for the prime minister's inspection on Thursday. According to the governor, Chiang Mai's improved drainage systems include the completion of dredging more than 100 kilometres of the Ping River and other major local waterways to ensure smooth and quick drainage of water. The governor acknowledged, however, that local authorities, need to further check whether there are buildings or other structures blocking the waterways, if so, immediate actions will be taken to address the problem. The governor revealed that disaster warning devices, supported by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), have also been installed in 243 local villages considered being at risk of flash floods and landslides, and that local people will receive warning texts from the devices, through their mobile phones, whenever rainwater in any area at risk exceeds 100 millimeters. During her visit to Chiang Mai, her hometown, Yingluck will also reportedly propose a water retention project in upstream districts to prevent flooding in urban and downtown areas of the northern resort city. The project needs to be approved by the majority of local residents through public forums. (TNA)