The Department of Groundwater Resources on Saturday denied opposition claims that the department favours politicians through its projects.
Jirayu Huangsap, of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said the department inappropriately allocated 1.4 million bottles of drinking water to Suphan Buri, despite the fact the drought is heavier in the Northeast.
Suphan Buri province is the political base of the Chartthaipattana Party led by Varawut Silpa-archa, also the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Kuson Chotirat, the department's deputy chief and spokesman, said the department's main goal is to provide free drinking water for people during the water shortage.
In this case, Mr Kuson said the department hoped to help by allocating to the public all empty bottles to the 2nd Regional Groundwater Resources unit based in Suphan Buri.
However, it later scrapped the plan due to the insufficient capacity of the local drinking water production facility that could produce only 5,000 litres per day. In the end it allocated empty bottles to other drinking water plants such as plants in Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen.
"The information given to parliament is out of date. We have no plan to support any politician. We work for the public's benefit only," he said.
Regarding the help it is providing during the drought, he said 1,640 artesian wells have been drilled and will be ready to go in April. They can supply 70 million cubic metres of water each year, helping 105,000 families covering 112,000 rai of plantation farmland nationwide.