BANGKOK, Nov 29 (TNA) -- About 90,000 households in upcountry are expected to have electricity to use within calendar year 2011 while some 40,000 households in remote areas plus some living in the Thai capital still live in the dark, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.
Speaking during his weekly television and radio address, Mr. Abhisit said his government has identified two groups of ‘the powerless’ – people without electricity in their homes--living upcountry.
The first group consists of some 90,000 households expected to receive electricity by the end of 2011 as the Provincial Electricity Authority is now installing lines.
He said the second group, some 40,000 households in remote areas will continue to be deprived of electrical service as the cost of installing electrical transmission lines is too expensive, but he pledged the government will find an alternative way by using other energy sources to assist them.
A third group having no electricity includes those living in Bangkok without home addresses or who live as trespassers will have to continue suffering because it is impossible for the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to install power lines, he said.
Touching on the rising prices of agricultural commodities on the world market, Mr. Abhisit said China has expressed readiness to buy rice from Thailand, a move which is likely to be conducted on a government-to-government basis, as he did not want the sale to have an impact on rice trade.
“Prices of rice and cassava are expected to increase while growers will enjoy more bargaining power,” Mr. Abhisit said. “This will be positive for (Thailand’s) economic recovery.” (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 13:06:12 29 November 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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