Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

Water User Organizations
In general, there are very few successful Water User Associations (WUAs) in Thailand.
This stems from a number of issues. The precise status of a water user’s organization
is ambiguous and lacks the necessary legislation for the formation of water user’s
organization with proper legal status. The successful formation and functioning of
WUAs depends on establishing obvious advantages to the water users as well as the
water provider. The Draft Water Law encourages the creation of WUAs as Section 32
states that Basin Committees would have to accommodate, advise, and assist water
users in forming WUAs for the benefit of conserving, developing and utilizing water
resources. The effectiveness of basin committees depends critically on the involvement
of representatives of civil society and local water users in drawing up plans for
water resources management and use.
Institutional Requirements for Management of National and Basin
Water Resources
International experience would suggest that the appropriate institutional arrangement
for water resources management in Thailand should be based on an integrated
approach that links a peak ministerial policy setting body to basin level and tributary
basin level organizations and to individual users through joint irrigation or town water
schemes. The functionality of these bodies should be governed by an appropriate
level of community participation, based on a more aware community that has been
empowered and enlightened by structured education or awareness programs.
National Water Resources Committee (NWRC)
The NWRC is an existing national committee, chaired by a Deputy Prime Minister
and its membership consists of ministerial representatives. The NWRC is supported
by a Secretariat Office - the ONWRC. The main function of the NWRC is and would
continue to develop national goals, objectives and policies for integrated river basin
management in accordance with the overall national interest. Some criticisms have
suggested that the composition of the NWRC is not sufficiently senior and does not
include specific water user representatives to ensure transparency and participatory management
of water resources. The appropriateness of the membership of the NWRC
should be reconsidered.
National Water Resources Agency/Authority (NWRA)
The establishment and development of a “national water resources management”
agency (NWRA) is seen as a critical step in providing an appropriate solution to the
lack of an apex water management body in Thailand. Such an agency would need to
be supported and empowered by new, comprehensive water resources legislation.
Effective Policy Framework
The Chao Phraya River Basin needs an effective policy framework to guide water
resource planning and management. National strategy on water resources development
and basin development plans have also been established for the 25 basins by the
DWR, but due to the lack of budget and disagreement with local people, most of
the plans have not been implemented. It is obvious that there has been considerable
thought given to policy development in respect to the water sector. The issue, however,
is to put these policies into effect. The goals in the Water Resource Policy need to be
translated into key water resources policies and strategies customized for the Chao
Phraya Basin and then specified having in mind the particular attributes of the various
sub-basins. The sustainable use of the natural resource base of the Chao Phraya
Basin can only occur if these policies and strategies exist to guide the planners and
A-42 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING