Civil Society and Water Governance in Northern Thailand: Local NGOs and Management of Mekong’s Tributaries in Chiang Rai

Wajjwalku, Siriporn

doi:10.1007/978-981-13-2399-7_6

Civil Society and Water Governance in Northern Thailand: Local NGOs and Management of Mekong’s Tributaries in Chiang Rai

Siriporn Wajjwalku²

Chapter
First Online: 13 January 2019

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on two cases of people’s organizations in water governance in Northern Thailand and aims to reveal the role of civil society as a stakeholder in water management, including water allocation and flood prevention of the Mekong’s tributaries in Chiang Rai. This chapter clarifies the interaction and coordination between local NGOs and government authorities, focusing on participatory opportunities and negotiation capacity. Through the two case studies of the People’s Council of Ing River and water allocation and the Association of Chiang Saen Livable City and Kok River Basin Ecology Group and flood prevention by telemetry and early warning systems, this chapter argues the limitations of local NGOs’ participation and their negotiation with government authorities in interactive, cooperative way of water governance.

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Notes

1.
The 3-year project titled “Water and Sustainable Development: Civil Society and Water Management of Mekong Tributaries in Northern Thailand” (2014–2016) supported by the Network for International Development Cooperation (NIDC), The Asia Foundation, and Thailand Research Fund.
2.
Water Governance Facility (WGF): watergovernance.org/water-governance/
3.
Water Governance Facility (WGF): watergovernance.org/governance/what-is-water-governance/
4.
Ibid.
5.
When this manuscript was written (October 2017), the draft of Water Resource Law was under consideration of the National Legislative Assembly after it was submitted in May 2017.
6.
The term for this regulation varies according to the organization involved. This regulation was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, and it was called “Regulation of the Office of Prime Minister.” However, in DWR’s website and document, the term “The Prime Minister Regulation” was used. In Thai, both organizations used the same word, “Rabieb Samnak Nayokratthamontri.”
7.
Interview with RBC of Kokand Mekong, April 2016.
8.
Interview with Office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Chiang Rai, April 2016.
9.
Interview with Regional Irrigation Office 2 in Chiang Rai, April 2016.
10.
This is the delegated authority of DWR at the regional level. There are 11 regional offices all over the country. Please see more details in Appendix 3.
11.
Interview with leaders of Rak Chiang Khong Group, April 2016.
12.
Interview with government officials in Phayao, August 2015.
13.
Interview with members of the Council in Phayao and Chiang Rai, August 2015.
14.
Observed by the author, leadership, namely, personality and charisma of networks’ leaders in Chiang Rai and Phayao, may contribute to the difference between these two groups. However, this observation needs more study to confirm.
15.
Some members of the Council have an idea to raise fund by legalizing the Council through a formal registration as a “foundation.”
16.
Interview with the members of the Council, November 2016.
17.
Interview with officials of RBC of Kokand Mekong, August 2015 and November 2016.
18.
Interview with the members of the Council, August 2015.
19.
Interview with members of the Association, April 2016.
20.
Interview with members of the Association, April 2016.
21.
Interview with the Chair of the Association, April 2016.
22.
Interview with members of the Association, April 2016.
23.
Interview with members of the Kok River Basin Ecology Group, April 2016.
24.
Interview with members of the Kok River Basin Ecology Group, April 2016.
25.
Interview with members of the Association, April 2016.
26.
Interview with the leader of the Kok River Basin Ecology Group, April 2016.
27.
Tributary flood occurs when the Kok River overflows its banks because of intense rainfall.
28.
Combined flood occurs as a result of the interaction between the Mekong River and Kok River when their water levels are high at the same time.
29.
Interview with villagers of Ban Saeo sub-district municipality, April 2016.
30.
Interview with government official in Chiang Rai, August 2015 and April and November 2016, and in Bangkok in March and April 2016.
31.
Interview with government officials in Chiang Rai in August 2015 and April and November 2016.
32.
Interview with government official of Chiang Rai Irrigation Project April 2016.
33.
Interview with government officials in Chiang Rai, August 2015 and April and November 2016.
34.
Interview with government officials in Chiang Rai, August 2015 and April and November 2016.
35.
Interview with government officials in Chiang Rai, August 2015 and April and November 2016.
36.
Interview with villagers of Ban Saeo Sub-district Municipality, April 2016.
37.
Interview with villagers of Ban Saeo Sub-district Municipality, members of Sop Kok Village Committee, and members of Association of Chiang Saen Livable City, April 2016.
38.
Interview with villagers of Ban Saeo Sub-district Municipality, members of Sop Kok Village Committee, and members of Association of Chiang Saen Livable City, April 2016.
39.
Interview with the leader and members of the Kok River Basin Ecology Group, April 2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Siriporn Wajjwalku

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Siriporn Wajjwalku
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Correspondence to Siriporn Wajjwalku .

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Editors and Affiliations

Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), Chiba, Japan
Kenji Otsuka

Appendices

1.1 Appendix 1

1.1.1 25 RBCs in Thailand

1.
Salween River Basin Committee
2.
Ping River Basin Committee
3.
Wang River Basin Committee
4.
Kok and Northern Mekong River Basin Committee
5.
Chao Phraya River Basin Committee
6.
Sakae Krang River Basin Committee
7.
Pa Sak River Basin Committee
8.
Northeastern Kong River Basin Committee
9.
Chi River Basin Committee
10.
Mun River Basin Committee
11.
Bang Pakong River Basin Committee
12.
Prachin Buri River Basin Committee
13.
Tonle Sap River Basin Committee
14.
Eastern Coast River Basin Committee
15.
Tha Chin River Basin Committee
16.
Mae Klong River Basin Committee
17.
Phetchaburi River Basin Committee
18.
Western Coast River Basin Committee
19.
Eastern South Coast River Basin Committee
20.
Songkhla Lake River Basin Committee
21.
Pattani River Basin Committee
22.
Yom River Basin Committee
23.
Nan River Basin Committee
24.
Tapi River Basin Committee
25.
Western South Coast River Basin Committee

1.2 Appendix 2

1.2.1 Agencies Involved with Water Resources Management (DWR 2014)

1.
Office of the Prime Minister
1. 1.1
  Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board
2. 1.2
  Budget Bureau
2.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
1. 2.1
  Office of the Permanent Secretary/Bureau of Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation
2. 2.2
  Royal Irrigation Department
3. 2.3
  Fishery Department
4. 2.4
  Land Development Department
5. 2.5
  The Cooperatives Promotion Department
6. 2.6
  Department of Agricultural Extension
7. 2.7
  Agricultural Land Reform Office
8. 2.8
  Office of Agricultural Economics
3.
Ministry of Transportation
1. 3.1
  Marine Department
4.
Ministry of Interior
1. 4.1
  Department of Provincial Administration
2. 4.2
  Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
3. 4.3
  Department of Public Works and Town Planning
4. 4.4
  Department of Local Administration
5.
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
1. 5.1
  The Meteorological Department
6.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
1. 6.1
  Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Plan
2. 6.2
  Department of Pollution Control
3. 6.3
  Department of Environment Quality Promotion
4. 6.4
  Department of Water Resources
5. 6.5
  Forestry Department
6. 6.6
  Department of Groundwater Resources
7. 6.7
  Department of National Park, Wildlife, and Plants
8. 6.8
  Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
7.
Ministry of Industry
1. 7.1
  Department of Industrial Factory
8.
Ministry of Defense
1. 8.1
  Armed Force Development Command, Royal Thai Armed Force
2. 8.2
  Hydrographics Department, Royal Thai Navy
9.
Ministry of Energy
1. 9.1
  Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency
10.
Bangkok Metropolis Authority
1. 10.1
  Department of Drainage and Sewerage
11.
Independent Public Agency
1. 11.1
  National Research Council of Thailand
12.
State Enterprise
1. 12.1
  Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
2. 12.2
  Metropolitan Water Supply Authority
3. 12.3
  Provincial Water Supply Authority
4. 12.4
  Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand

1.3 Appendix 3

1.3.1 11 Regional Offices of DWR

No.	Office	River Basin	Province
1.	Regional Office 1 in Lampang Province	1.1 Salween River Basin	Mae Hong Son Tak Chiang Mai
		1.2 Ping River Basin	Chiang Mai Lumphun Tak Kamphaeng Phet Nakhon Sawan
		1.3 Wang River Basin	Lampang Tak Chiang Rai
		1.4 Kok and Northern Mekong River Basin	Chiang Rai Phayao Chiang Mai
2.	Regional Office 2 in Saraburi Province	2.1 Chao Phraya River Basin	Nakhon Sawan Chai Nat Sing Buri Ang Thong Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Pathum Thani Nonthaburi Bangkok Samut Prakarn Lopburi Saraburi Phetchabun Kamphaeng Phet
		2.2 Sakae Krang River Basin	Uthai Thani Nakhon Sawan Kamphaeng Phet
		2.3 Pa Sak River Basin	Phetchabun Lopburi Saraburi Loei Chaiyabhum Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
3.	Regional Office 3 in Udon Thani Province	3.1 Northeastern Kong River Basin	Loei Udon Thani Nongkai Bungkan Sakon Nakhon Nakhon Phanom Mukdahan Nong BuaLumphu Amnat Charoen Ubon Ratchathani
4.	Regional Office 4 in Khon Kaen Province	4.1 Chi River Basin	Chaiyabhum Khon Kaen Maha Sarakham Kalasin Roi Et Yasothon Loei Phetchabun Nong Bua Lumphu Udon Thani Nakhon Ratchasima Mukdahan Sisaket Ubon Ratchathani
5.	Regional Office 5 in Nakhon Ratchasima Province	5.1 Mun River Basin	Nakhon Ratchasima Buriram Surin Sisaket Ubon Ratchathani Amnat Charoen Chaiyabhum Khon Kaen Maha Sarakham Roi Et Yasothon
6.	Regional Office 6 in Prachinburi Province	6.1 Bang Pakong River Basin	Chachoengsao Nakhon Nayok Prachinburi Sa Kaeo Chonburi
		6.2 Prachinburi River Basin	Prachinburi Chachoengsao Nakhon Nayok Sa Kaeo Chonburi
		6.3 Tonle Sap River Basin	Sa Kaeo Prachinburi Chanthaburi
		6.4 Eastern Coast River Basin	Chonburi Rayong Chanthaburi Trat
7.	Regional Office 7 in Ratchaburi Province	7.1 Tha Chin River Basin	Suphan Buri Nakhon Pathom Samut Sakhon Chai Nat Uthai Thani
		7.2 Mae Klong River Basin	Kanchanaburi Ratchaburi Samut Songkhram Tak Uthai Thani Suphan Buri Nakhon Pathom
		7.3 Phetchaburi River Basin	Phetchaburi Ratchaburi Samut Songkhram Prachuap Khiri Khan
		7.4 Western Coast River Basin	Prachuap Khiri Khan Phetchaburi Chumphon
8.	Regional Office 8 in Songkhla Province	8.1 Eastern South Coast River Basin	Chumphon Nakhon Si Thammsarat Narathiwat Surat Thani Songkhla Pattani Yala
		8.2 Songkhla Lake River Basin	Songkhla Phatthalung Nakhon Si Thammsarat
		8.3 Pattani River Basin	Yala Pattani Songkhla
9.	Regional Office 9 in Phitsanulok Province	9.1 Yom River Basin	Phrae Sokhothai Phayao Lampang Nan Phitsanulok Tak Phichit Kamphaeng Phet Nakhon Sawan
9.	Regional Office 9 in Phitsanulok Province	9.2 Nan River Basin	Nan Uttaradit Phitsanulok Phichit Phetchabun Nakhon Sawan
10.	Regional Office 10 in Surat Thani Province	10.1 Tapi River Basin	Surat Thani Nakhon Si Thammsarat Krabi Trang
10.	Regional Office 10 in Surat Thani Province	10.2 Western South Coast River Basin	Ranong Phang Nga Phuket Krabi Trang Satun Nakhon Si Thammsarat
11.	Regional Office 11 in Ubon Ratchathani Province	11.1 Lower Kong Chi Mun River Basins	Ubon Ratchathani Amnat Charoen Mukhahan Yasothorn

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Wajjwalku, S. (2019). Civil Society and Water Governance in Northern Thailand: Local NGOs and Management of Mekong’s Tributaries in Chiang Rai. In: Otsuka, K. (eds) Interactive Approaches to Water Governance in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2399-7_6

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2399-7_6
Published: 13 January 2019
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2398-0
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2399-7
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Appendices

Appendices

1.1 Appendix 1

1.1.1 25 RBCs in Thailand

1.2 Appendix 2

1.2.1 Agencies Involved with Water Resources Management (DWR 2014)

1.3 Appendix 3

1.3.1 11 Regional Offices of DWR

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