The money will be for medium- to long-term work recommended by the National Water Resource Committee, which Kosit chairs.

A Government House source said prevention work would start in the Chao Phya and Tha Chin river basins that suffered extensive flooding last year. It would focus on water release and diversion aspects to protect the river basins and 800,000 rai of farmland.

Flood-protection efforts in key urban and economic areas of Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya and Samut Sakhon would cost Bt6.14 billion.

Meanwhile, the committee is seeking solutions for drought relief, too.

Already 15,000 villages have been affected by drought - 8,000 fewer than this time last year.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reports 40 provinces are suffering drought with the North and Northeast the worst hit.

Five million people and three million rai of farmland in the two regions have been affected.

All seven districts in Satun and two in Trang have been declared drought zones with more than 5,400 households affected there, according to the department's acting regional director Soh Hemakul.

Aid includes the distribution of 2.5 million litres of water and well drilling.

In Surat Thani in the upper South, Koh Samui authorities are worried about a fresh-water shortage from April to May - the high tourist season.

In Muang district in Tak, farmers are being forced to herd cows 10 kilometres for water.