Nakhon Ratchasima: The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) yesterday kick started public consultations to draw up a water-management plan for the Moon River Basin.
The plan is urgently needed to tackle severe drought and floods in 10 northeastern provinces, it says.
The first consultation, which was held at the Raya Grand Hotel, was attended by Nakhon Ratchasima district officer Visuth Chatchaval, ONWR director Boonsom Chonpitakwong, as well as local government officials, villagers and civic groups.
The scheme aims to determine how to allocate water during periods of drought and how to divert and drain water during to prevent flooding.
Currently provinces in the Northeast often find themselves in conflict with each other over what they perceive is unfair distribution of water during drought.
Meanwhile, a lack of coordination among provinces and agencies results in unnecessary flooding in some communities, according to the ONWR.
Mr Boonsom told reporters the public consultation process was necessary to gather opinions and information in order to draw up a plan for the Moon River Basin which should take a year to complete.