BEIJING - The water reservoirs and hydropower stations on the upper reaches of the Mekong River should not be blamed for the drought in Southeast Asia, the president of the International Commission of Large Dams said on Wednesday.

In fact, the severe drought has revealed the water infrastructure along the Mekong River is "inadequate" to effectively fight droughts and floods, Jia Jinsheng told China Daily.

Dams have been built since a century ago; in the dry season, they release water to add to the supply, while in the rainy season, they hold back water to help reduce the damage, he said.