Bangkok: Yotsanu Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, chaired a crucial meeting of the Regional Disaster Policy Committee to address the pressing issues of flooding and drought in northern Thailand. The meeting focused on implementing strategic measures to tackle these challenges effectively.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Yotsanu Wongsawat, in his role as Chairman of the Committee on Flood and Drought Prevention and Mitigation in the Northern Region, led a gathering with representatives from various agencies including the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and others. The objective was to monitor the current situation and assign urgent measures to counteract the effects of floods and droughts in 17 northern provinces.
During the session, different agencies presented their preparedness and response plans. The DDPM shared its emergency response strategies and warning systems, while the Meteorological Department and the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRA) provided insights into weather forecasts and water management approaches. Governors from northern provinces also detailed their localized plans for dealing with risks associated with flash floods and droughts.
Following these presentations, Prof. Dr. Yotsanu outlined several key directives. These included eliminating funding bottlenecks by ensuring urgent disaster prevention projects receive timely financial support, establishing a 24-hour monitoring war room, and employing innovative technologies in collaboration with local universities to improve evacuation and assistance efforts.
Furthermore, the committee emphasized accelerating dredging projects in major rivers, such as the Nan and Yom Rivers, and improving water storage strategies to prevent future drought crises. Prof. Dr. Yotsanu stressed the importance of applying lessons from previous years to enhance communication and assistance delivery to affected areas swiftly.