The cabinet on Tuesday (January 7) approved the structures of ad hoc command centres, aimed at mitigating the impact of drought as well as setting guidelines on solving the problem. 
The government divides the drought problem into three levels, depending on the intensity. 
The first level is reached when the problem worsens in the regional level and affects 10 per cent of the areas. Under this scenario, a command centre will be set up under the secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources. 
The second level is reached when the problem is fast becoming a crisis, affecting 30 per cent of the regions. A command centre will then be set up under Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. 
The third and highest level is reached when it affects more than 60 per cent of the regions. In such event, a command centre will be set up and chaired by the premier. 
She added that Thailand is currently at the second level. 
The cabinet also allocated a budget of more than Bt3 billion from the 2019 central budget to solve the issue.

Govt sets steps in fighting drought

The Prayut Chan-o-cha administration will tackle the problem of drought as a national priority, spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Tuesday (January 7).