Somkiart Prajamwong, secretary general of the ONWR, said the budget request was presented to Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan during a meeting on Wednesday to consider the measures for coping with drought. 
Somkiart said government agencies proposed 17,283 projects that would require some Bt173 billion of allocations under the next fiscal year’s budget bill. The ONWR would request Bt180 billion as it would set aside Bt7 billion for a central fund in case of emergency, he said. 
He said a Bt160 billion budget was initially proposed but nine government agencies sought Bt13 billion more. 
Somkiart said Prawit also instructed all government agencies to speed up efforts to help the people affected by the ongoing drought. 
As part of the measures, 4,214 sorties have been flown to seed rains in northeastern provinces between March 1 to August 11, Somkiart added. 
He said officials are also surveying the drought areas.

Govt agencies seek Bt180bn for drought measures

The Office of National Water Resources will seek a budget of Bt180 billion for implementing projects to tackle or avert drought in the 2020 fiscal year, the chief of the office said.