BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) — The government will spend more than 1.4 billion baht to buy two planes and a helicopter to be used in artificial rainmaking to fight against drought and the current smog which hits Bangkok and surrounding provinces, said Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry Grisada Boonrach.
The new two planes will be bought from Indonesia cost about 900 million baht and the helicopter costs about 500 million baht will be funded from the government budget for fiscal 2018-2020 years, said Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department Surasee Kittimonthol.
One plane will be delivered this year and another one next year, said Mr Surasee, adding that they will replace aged planes which are being used by the department.
Currently, the department possesses 14 large-sized planes.
Guidelines have been given to Mr Surasee and the ministry’s officials to explore ways and innovative technology for suitable moisture and cloud seeding operation in making artificial rain, Mr Grisada said, adding that the operations will be fully performed during an upcoming summer season.
On the unhealthy fine dust being faced by people living in Bangkok and surrounding provinces and an artificial rain was held Tuesday this week to fight against the smog problem, it was found that the operation was successful.
But a similar operation cannot be performed now due to low moisture and insufficient amount of cloud in the capital. The department officials are ordered to standby for immediate operation to resolve smog problem. (TNA)
