Thongplew Kongchan, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said Prayut approved the irrigation projects and gave the Interior Ministry the job of overseeing the implementation of the projects by coordinating with the irrigation department and other government agencies.

He said the emergency projects for Surin include the Bt196-million job of dredging and expanding the capacity of existing reservoirs. The department has earmarked Bt130 million for the same job in Buri Ram, and will also spend Bt379 million to dig seven irrigation canals and Bt157 million to build two monkey-cheek water retention areas.