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โครงการหนังสืออิเล็กทรอนิกส์ด้านการเกษตร เฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว

Study Data
The sources of data on water policies in Thailand include archives, laws and regulations,
ministerial statements to parliament, cabinet resolutions, Economic and Social Development Plans 1-
11, government administrative plans, committee resolutions, policies of relevant ministries, key events
related to water management, and data from various research institutes.

Research Reports

There are five research documents in this project. The main research report provides key
findings that are compiled from the other four Supplementary Documents. Supplementary Documents
1 and 2 review water policies from the Sukhothai Period from B.E. 1762 until B.E. 2559, including key
events pertaining to water policies in 14 historical periods. There are a total of 15 chapters in the two
volumes.
Supplementary Document 3 analyzes the dynamics of water policies in Thailand. Chapter 16
analyzes policy changes and compares water policies as stated in the National Economic and Social
Development Plans, ministerial statements to parliament, and cabinet resolutions, as well as the
implementation of the policies. The focus is on policy changes and policy alignment and differences
both in general and specific terms. Supplementary Document 4 describes policy consequences from
the past until the present, comprising three chapters. Chapter 17 outlines water management in
Thailand, focusing on five topics, namely (1) water management organizations, (2) laws relating to water
resources management, (3) database systems on water resources, (4) problems in managing water
resources, and (5) recommendations for water management in Thailand. Chapter 18 reviews and
analyzes four water policies that faced public opposition: (1) opposition to dam construction and water
resources development projects, (2) opposition to water resources management plan proposed by the
th
60 government, (3) opposition to collection of water charges from farmers, and (4) opposition to
enactment of the Water Resources Act. Chapter 19 focuses on the current situations of water resources
in Thailand, starting from a summary of the problems that were caused by previous water policies and
still remain to this day. The chapter reviews and analyzes four issues, namely, (1) Thailand’s current
water capacity, (2) results of developing water sources, (3) water demand, and (4) Thailand’s current
problems related to water resources and management.

Study results

Historical records show that the Thai state has continuously developed water policies from
the Sukhothai period (B.E. 1762) until today (B.E. 2559), as water is considered an important factor for
livelihoods and has important implications for the nation’s social and economic development.

Dynamics of Thailand’s Water Policies
The review of Thailand’s water policies from the past until now finds that water policies were
originally initiated to serve agricultural and household consumption purposes. Such policies were later
expanded to include other purposes of water usage, corresponding to changes in the country’s socio-
economic conditions. Thailand’s previous water policies that generally aim to resolve water resources
issues have three main specific objectives, namely: (1) water shortage or drought, (2) flood, and (3)
water quality. Water policies in the past until now thus share similar key issues, as the majority of them
focus on solving the three problems mentioned above, particularly the efforts to provide and develop

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