Thailand tells farmers to wait for rain, save water for public to use during severe drought

BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister is telling farmers to stop using water in agriculture to save it for public consumption, as the capital remains spared from the worst droughts in decades.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday that farmers should wait for rain as the government shifts its focus during the drought from agriculture to daily use.

Prayuth said military personnel were sent to stop farmers from diverting water released from dams for their farmland.

Authorities earlier asked farmers to hold off on planting rice, but many had already begun growing their crops.

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority said Bangkok has not been affected by the drought although it warned that tap water might be saltier than usual, but not to the level people could taste it.