He also stated that Bangkok Metropolitan Administration workers would not be setting up distribution points for free water in key waterfight zones like Silom as they had done in previous years. Mr Suvarndee noted that the governor had asked business owners and householders to refrain from turning on their taps and supplying waterfight combatants too.
Explaining the reasoning behind the toned down celebrations for Songkran 2016, Mr Suvarndee said Thailand was in the middle of the worst drought in the last two decades and water was a very precious commodity. He finished off by saying the Silom Songkran Carnival would also only last for two days on 13 and 14 April instead of the customary three.
Local authorities across Thailand say they will be curtailing their Songkran festivities due to the drought, although Chiang Mai’s water-board did say there would be enough water to fill its moat for the festivities and waterfights. Many Bangkok residents return to their hometowns for the duration of Songkran.
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Drought ensures Bangkok Songkran waterfights will be tame
News in Asia
A representative for Bangkok’s governor says Bangkokians will have to forego waterfights for this year’s Songkran Festival next week. Wallop Suvarndee told reporters at a press conference that residents and tourists will have to make do with spraying each other with mini water pistols.