Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is satisfied with the Agriculture Ministry’s plan to drain water into 13 water catchment areas in the Chao Phraya river basin with  Thung Bang Rakham in Phitsanulok being the first to receive water from the North to ease northern runoffs downstream through the Chao Phraya river, said government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Saturday.

He said the government is confident that the Central Plains will not be flooded this year, citing forecasts from the Meteorological Department that cold season will come sooner this year and rain will soon reduce.

In the first phase, he said water will be drained into the 13 catchment areas up to 30-50 percent of their capacities to store water in order to leave room for the areas to receive more water in case there are more rain in the northern region.

He added that the prime minister was told by the Agriculture Ministry about its plan to release fish and shrimp fries into Thung Bang Rakham water catchment area so that farmers could catch them to supplement their incomes.