Korat to announce drought disaster zones
Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichian Chantharanothai plans to convene a meeting of government agencies on Friday to find ways to tackle the worsening drought in the northeastern province.
Wichian said on Thursday that he would also announce drought disaster zones after the meeting, covering 14 districts that have been hit by a shortage of rain.
The disaster zones will be based on figures of damage to be officially presented by the Nakhon Ratchasima's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office.
The meeting will be attended by agricultural officers for districts and the province, the chief provincial irrigation officer, the provincial chief disaster prevention officer and representatives of all waterworks offices in the province as well as representatives of all hospitals in the province.
Wichian said the hardest hit districts included None Thasi, Khong, Bua Yai, Sida, and Huay Thalaeng.
The Nakhon Ratchasima's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office has reported that 550,000 rai of paddy fields and 140,000 rai of other crops in 14 districts have been hit by the drought. The figures of damage increased as officials surveyed the damage in the districts.
Many villagers have complained that their lush green paddy fields turned into dry weed fields after the rains stopped, shortly after they had planted their rice.