CHIANG MAI, 28 March 2017 (NNT) – The Bureau of Royal Rainmaking (BRR) has established an operation center in the north to combat both the persisting drought and haze.

The center has been set up in Muang district of Chiang Mai province with the express purpose of counteracting a worsening drought in the northern region as well as to dispel haze and smog that have severely affected residents. It is hoped that rains produced by the effort will both clear up smog over the north and replenish its reservoirs. The rain will also be targeted at forest fires that have been keeping the haze a problem.

The operation comes as reports from areas such as Phichit province indicate water in major rivers such as the Yom River have dropped to critical levels. Farmers have been seriously encouraged to stop all activity at this time as some areas of the Yom River now have sand dunes exposed due to their low water level.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants is seeking to teach locals of remote areas to use His Majesty the late King’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to reduce their water requirements at this time, helping them to sustain their communities through the drought season.