Minister Kasem Sanidwong na Ayudhaya said the ministry's Groundwater Resources Department had drilled more than 3,000 wells to relieve water shortages.

One third of the wells provide potable water. The rest is for household and other uses.

Kasem opened a department-run water collection point at a Khon Kaen village on Wednesday.

He said groundwater supplies were sufficient to ease drought but distribution needed improvement.

He will seek between Bt300 million and Bt400 million in additional spending to improve distribution and storage ahead of next year's dry season.

The Northeast is the country's hardest-hit area. Its soil is rough and sandy and dries quickly. Drilling for groundwater is the most suitable solution.

In Khon Kaen, 71 water collection points and 39 "mini bottlingplants" have been built.

"The water is free. Local people bring their containers and go straight to our permanent service points to get it. Or, if that's not convenient, they can contact their tambon administrative organisations and they will deliver it to villages," Kasem said.

Drinking-water plants are built to World Health Organisation standards and are run by tambon organisation committees.

The ministry builds the plants. The organisations pay the operating expenses and determine per-bottle costs.

"About 57 provinces will suffer from drought this year, but it could be more in the future. We want to help people as much as we can. But the problem is money. We might not be able to expand this project in 2008," Kasem said.

Pasara Puthamat

The Nation