Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

is probably the most significant factor inhibiting the implementation of integrated water
resources management (IWRM) in Thailand.
The current Water Policy has resulted in development plans for a number of river basins,
but due to the lack of budget allocations, disagreements with local communities have led
to the stalling of many of these plans. Additionally, administrative boundaries are often not
drawn along water catchment or river basin lines, which leads to fragmentation of responsibilities
and uncoordinated between different administrative areas, within a single river
basin.
In efforts to rectify some of these issues, a new water bill has been drafted which outlines
the policy framework to guide integrated water resources planning and management,
focusing on planning for overall and sub-catchment river basins. However, the draft bill
does not provide a suitable basis for promoting good IWRM, for developing a comprehensive
approach to river basin management, or an adequate mandate for any agency to be
the national water resource manager. Due consideration should be given to the notion that
flood control measures and policies should focus on mitigating floods and associated damage,
rather than flood prevention.
Finally, at a higher level, good water governance and appropriate environmental laws,
acts and ordinances are more likely to lead to sustainable economic development and to
reduce the risk of environmental degradation.
Institutional Arrangements
A plethora of government agencies is involved in water resources management and use.
Under the Prime Minister’s Office, there are six national boards and committees that are
responsible for policy planning and coordination of water resources at the national level.
The three dominant players in terms of water management and flood control are the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,
and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). The responsibilities of each
are described in brief below.
It should be noted that many agencies are involved in and hold responsibilities regarding
the construction and maintenance of river dikes and embankments, such as the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration, the Ministry of Transport, the Royal Irrigation Department, and
local authorities at provincial level.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) is responsible for
management of natural resources (including surface water, groundwater, forestry,
protected areas, mineral resources, and coastal resources) and the environment, including
pollution control and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reviews. The Department of
Water Resources (DWR), established in 2002, is the lead agency under MNRE responsible for
integrated water resources planning including fostering IWRM implementation. With such
a broad set of responsibilities, effective cooperation among key agencies within MNRE is
critical for forging effective IWRM implementation.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) controls the two largest dams
in the headwaters of the Chao Phraya River Basin. Each year, EGAT and RID allocate the
available water to the various users (irrigation, major urban and industrial, salinity intrusion,
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